Meg Leder became an auto-buy author for me as soon as I read The Museum of Heartbreak way back when it came out. I know it's not everyone's jam, but I cannot resist a book that makes me ugly sob - something about the whole affair is very cathardic to me, and I always walk away feeling a little more whole than I was before. Letting Go of Gravity did exactly what I expected it to do, and I cried buckets and came away lighter for it.

Parker reacts very close to how I feel I would react in a similar situation - she's overly protective of Charlie and desperate to have some measure of control because she wants to keep him safe and healthy but she knows she can't and that drives her crazy. Charlie, on the other hand, just wants to soak up as much of life as he possibly can because he understands how precious life is, and you obviously can't fault him for that. I wish I could be more adventurous and open like that sometimes, but I definitely would be more likely to follow in Parker's footsteps and hyperfixate on the wrong things until someone teachers me a better way.

This is a beautiful book about living life to the fullest, no matter what is going on around you, and I can't say enough good things about it. Trust me, you NEED to read this one.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was a sucker for tear jerkers like this when I was a teen. So, I was happy to be granted the opportunity to read this one. I thought the book covered a really tough subject well. I think the characters could have been a bit more but otherwise I think it was a good read.

I feel like this one doesn't do enough to distinguish itself from the pack of cancer stories. It has a number of interesting elements but they aren't fully developed. It's a muddle of competing ideas that don't form a cohesive unit. And the characters aren't complex enough to carry a somewhat fumbling plot.

Touching realistic fiction!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Pulse for the opportunity to read and review Letting Go of Gravity by Meg Leder! Parker and Charlie are twins. One of them is giving the Valedictorian speech at high school graduation and the other watches from the audience, not graduating because of being held back a year in school, due to a second bout with leukemia. Parker has her future set out for her and Charlie is tired of dealing with leukemia. At the same time, Charlie seems much more confident about what he’s feeling and what he wants compared to Parker, who has uncertainties about everything. Parker crosses paths with Finn, a friend from elementary school that she lost track of. Charlie acts like he has a death wish and it’s upsetting his family and friends so much that his parents send him to a cancer therapy support group. Parker thinks that Charlie hates her and she seems to keep making the same mistakes, over and over, that make him angry. Through the turmoil of figuring out their lives and futures, Parker and Charlie surprise each other with how similar they are but different at the same time. A touching realistic fiction story with Ruby and Finn, dynamic side characters that bring an extra level of maturity to the plot and story line. 5 stars!

BOOK REPORT for Letting Go of Gravity by Meg Leder

Cover Story: Put a Bird On It
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 8
Talky Talk: School of Sarah Dessen
Bonus Factor: Mysterious Loner Dude
Relationship Status: Just My Type

Cover Story: Put a Bird On It

This cover is okay. Pretty good. Not bad at all. Parker gets the nickname “Bird” at one point in the book, plus there’s the whole theme of, well, letting go of gravity. So, like, I get it. But there’s also a great plotline about street art and murals that would’ve been, IMHO, more appropriate and much cooler and more original for this cover.

The Deal:

Parker has just graduated as valedictorian and she’s about to spend her summer in a highly competitive internship at the children’s hospital before going off to study pre-med at Harvard. She’s wanted to be a pediatric oncologist since she was a kid—since her twin brother, Charlie, was diagnosed with leukemia the first time and Parker wasn’t. Parker has always been the careful twin, the responsible twin, the twin her parents didn’t have to worry about. She’s always carried around the guilt of being the healthy twin. But now that Charlie’s leukemia has gone into remission again, Parker should be able to breathe a sigh of relief, right? She just can’t seem to shake the unsettling feeling she’s had since receiving her Harvard acceptance letter.

When Parker’s life collides with a girl named Ruby and a mysterious street artist named Finn, she suddenly starts to wonder if the life she’s always had planned out is the right one for her.

BFF Charm: Yay

Not going to lie: Parker reminded me of my high school self to an uncomfortable degree. She’s burdened by the guilt of being healthy while her brother has had leukemia twice, and she has decided to dedicate every moment of her life to becoming the world’s greatest pediatric oncologist to make up for it. She’s deathly afraid of disappointing her parents or straying from the path she’s chosen for herself. She’s anxious to the point of developing an eyelid twitch. She’s a bit of a narc. I was all of these things. And while being a tad uptight may not sound worthy of a BFF Charm, I know from experience that all of this comes from a place of caring too much about other people and not wanting to burden anyone else with your own failures and problems.

Swoonworthy Scale: 8

From the moment Parker sees Finn Casper behind the counter at Float, you KNOW something big is going on between them. You can feel it practically vibrating off the pages. Okay, sure, maybe they haven’t seen each other since first grade, but that only adds to the excitement. Parker and Finn were childhood besties before Finn mysteriously disappeared from school (and Parker’s life) one day. But now that they’ve reconnected, that history gives them a very loaded, very swoony starting place for a new friendship that only gets swoonier as they spend more time together.

Talky Talk: School of Sarah Dessen

I loved Meg Leder’s first book, The Museum of Heartbreak, and really expected this book to be similar to it, so I was surprised by the difference in tone when I was reading Letting Go of Gravity. I don’t mean this as a bad thing! While The Museum of Heartbreak was light and funny and sweet and awkward, Letting Go of Gravity had a bit more, well, gravitas. Parker reminded me a lot of one of Sarah Dessen’s heroines—a smart, thoughtful, anxious girl struggling to cope with some heavy stuff, and finding relief from everyday life with a new group of eye-opening friends and co-workers.

Bonus Factor: Mysterious Loner Dude

Finn has all the makings of a classic MLD. Hobbies of questionable safety and ethics, a less-than-desirable home life that can make him prickly and secretive, a collection of metal t-shirts and hair that’s pulled back into a messy-in-a-good-way ponytail, and maybe, most importantly, a heart of gold and grin that’ll make you *feel* things.

Relationship Status: Just My Type

I really, truly fell in love with this book. The amount of heart and emotion surprised me in a good way, while still offering up the sweetness and swoon I expect from a Meg Leder book.

Letting Go of Gravity is available now.

Parker has planned for years to become a doctor, ever since her twin brother Charlie got cancer. Now that she is beginning her summer internship at the children's hospital before starting at Harvard, she is having second thoughts and even panic attacks. Unfortunately, her parents have great expectations for her in her career choice, so Parker feels like she is trapped. When she withdraws from her internship without her parents' knowledge, she takes a job at Trina's pottery business at her friend Finn's recommendation. In the midst of conflict with Charlie, keeping her secret from her parents, and reconciling her feelings about Finn, Parker must decide what she's going to do - satisfy her family or do what makes her happy.
I enjoyed this book overall, but it was so sad. The characters came to life on the page, and I sincerely hoped that Parker would find the courage to do what she wanted to do with her life and get the help she needed with her panic attacks. I know how difficult it is to experience anxiety, so I connected with Parker's character on a personal level. I didn't agree with some of the lifestyles and viewpoints expressed in the book, but I especially didn't care for the overwhelming amount of profanity (we are talking f-bombs). That was a real turn off for me. I was happy with the way the book ended, even though the outcome was bittersweet. I also thought there were some good lessons about relationships in the book, and that was my favorite part. Recommended for those who enjoy YA fiction (older teens and adults).
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I liked Letting Go of Gravity right from the start. I was definitely hooked with the story that Parker was told by her grandmother.

It's true while you want Parker to realize who she is on her own, at the same time, you kind of want to sit down with her and have a heart-to-heart talk to push her in the right direction. Luckily, the supporting cast (Ruby, Trina, retirement home ladies, and Finn) really make the book. They each serve a purpose in Parker's life to get her to where she needs to be. It's a great story about realizing who you actually are and not who you think you should be.

You should definitely pick up this book up!

A touching story about sibling relationships, illness in the family, friendship, and coming of age. The characters in this story are vividly drawn and realistic and the writing style is evocative.

not by style, i couldn't get into this book and will not be finishing. that doesn't mean it's not something great for others, as we all of varying tastes in books

Will be posted on a blog on 07/05/18:

"What would it be like to do something not because you had to, but just because you wanted to?"

Letting Go of Gravity starts with a story of a gravity girl and a helium girl that grandma used to tell twins Charlie McCullough and Parker McCullough. This story represented Charlie who wants to fly and Parker who won't let go.

Parker is Harvard bound and she's the valedictorian of her class. After learning Charlie has Leukemia, Parker wants to be a pediatric oncologist. She has a prestigious internship for the summer at a local hospital. Charlie, on the other hand, has to repeat senior year again due to missing school when he was in the hospital for Leukemia. He is currently in remission. However, the sibling relationship between Charlie and Parker has been strained ever since the twins started arguing over everything.

Meg Leder gives a glimpse how a serious illness can impact loved ones. Parker is scared bout Charlie getting sick again and possibly dying. There are a couple of scenes in the book where Parker has a panic attack about whether she can handle what life throws at her. Fortunately, her best friend Em always supports here and is always there for her. When Em moves to college, Parker befriends Ruby Collie from Float and reconnects with former childhood classmate Finn Casper.

I found it refreshing when Parker decides not to attend her internship. Just because she is the valedictorian, she is far from perfect. She can make mistakes or change her mind about stuff and her anxiety takes a form of its own. When she doesn't want to be a doctor anymore, it wasn't until she talks to Finn that she decides she needs to follow her heart. She decides to take Finn's suggestion and applies to a job at Trina's Ceramics. Parker can finally breathe and it feels like a weight is lifted off her shoulders at her new job. Creativity runs in Parker's veins even if she doesn't know it. Finn finds solace in street art as he paints amazing messages around the city. Parker and Finn starts to connect with what makes them happy.

Leder writes with sincerity. Her book is realistic and she knows how teens think to how they act to what they say. The pressure that society has on them can be unbearable and sometimes it's hard to convey what they think and feel to adults. Parker finds meaningful friendships with Ruby and Finn. She needs friends who knows what she was going through. By the end of the book, Parker finds her wings to fly!

Although the novel is fairly long for a contemporary, Letting Go of Gravity is emotionally gripping and relatable. The novel addresses how someone copes with a loved one being ill, how to manage anxiety and how one gains the strength to be honest not only with themselves but with the world. If you enjoy reading books such as The Museum of Heartbreak, The Start of Me and You and Emmy & Oliver, you will love Letting Go of Gravity.

Meg Leder’s Letting Go of Gravity is a beautiful, emotionally engaging story about a young woman named Parker and her twin brother, Charlie. When the novel opens, Parker, as Class Valedictorian, is giving a speech at her graduation. Parker has been wildly successful in her academic life – making straight As, achieving perfect scores on her SATs, getting accepted to Harvard where she plans to study to become a doctor, and landing herself a spot at a very competitive internship at the local children’s hospital. Charlie, on the other hand, even though he’s Parker’s twin, is not graduating. Instead, he is being held back because he missed too much time from school. Why? Because Charlie has been battling cancer. He was diagnosed with it for the first time when he was in fourth grade, went into remission, only to have it return the summer before his senior year.

Parker is obsessed with making sure her twin is safe. She watches over him like a hawk, reporting back to her parents anytime she fears Charlie might be doing something that will cause another relapse. While Charlie understands where his sister is coming from, ultimately he can’t stand being around her because she makes him feel like he’s a caged animal with no freedom to do anything he wants to do. Needless to say, their relationship is quite strained and Parker begins to wonder if things will ever be normal between them again…

I really loved Parker. I thought she was just such a sweetheart and even though it drives Charlie crazy, I loved how devoted Parker is to him. I have a sister, and she’s not even a twin, but I feel that level of fierce protectiveness for her that Parker has for Charlie. Parker has devoted most of her life to watching over Charlie, so much so that he’s actually the main reason she’s planning to study pre-med at Harvard. She wants to be a pediatric oncologist, specifically because of what has happened to Charlie. Her parents are giddy about her decision, with her dad already starting to call her Dr. McCullough. Parker, however, has been experiencing anxiety every time she thinks about going to Harvard in the fall, and when she arrives at the hospital to begin her internship, she has a full on panic attack and has to leave. At this moment, Parker begins to seriously question if this is what she really wants.

The story is told from Parker’s perspective and this was fantastic too because the author does an incredible job of portraying all of the conflicting emotions that were at war in Parker’s head. While Charlie may feel like a caged animal because everyone watches him like a hawk, Parker starts to feel equally caged in by her fears – fear of failure, fear of disappointing her loved ones, and of course, fear of losing her loved ones. Being inside of Parker’s head was kind of a messy place to be because she has so much going on in there, but everything she’s thinking, feeling, and fearing just felt so realistic.

The relationships in Letting Go of Gravity were beautifully written as well. The very complex and strained sibling relationship between Parker and Charlie was my favorite, but I also loved the friendships. Parker has three incredible friends, Finn, Em and Ruby, and they are as devoted to Parker as Parker is to Charlie. Their support is unwavering but they are also all there to give Parker a kick in the pants when she really needs it. There are also a couple of potential romances that come out of these friendships, but the author does a wonderful job of weaving those in gently so that they don’t get in the way of what I would say is more of a coming of age story than anything else as these friends give Parker the love and support she needs to figure out who she is and what she really wants out of life.

Lastly, this story is just packed with moving, relatable, and relevant themes, which is something that always makes a contemporary novel appealing to me. This novel tackles how cancer and other serious illnesses impact, not just the patient, but also the entire family – the fear that comes when faced with the possibility of losing someone you love, the sacrifices you’re willing to make to do everything in your power to keep that from happening, and so on. Letting Go of Gravity also explores anxiety and the pressure of putting too much on yourself, especially if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, but really, even if you think you’re doing it for the right reasons. As the title implies, sometimes you just have to let go of what is weighing you down.

The only real issue I had with Letting Go of Gravity was that I found some of it to be a little too predictable. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything for other readers, but I guessed almost immediately how things were going to go for Parker. I can’t say that it really lessened my enjoyment of the overall story, but I always prefer it when plot twists actually surprise me.

Letting Go of Gravity is a beautiful and moving book. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to fans of John Green, Jennifer Niven, and Brigid Kemmerer. If you like emotional books that feature sibling relationships and great friendships, and that might make you shed a tear or two, give Letting Go of Gravity a try.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! 2.5 stars with potential. I enjoyed the idea of the twins where one battled cancer, and the healthy twin felt guilt. That’s very realistic and interesting to me (& thank goodness not overdone). I also liked Parker, the female twin, reconnecting with this childhood friend who has had a rough life. Finn seemed very real to me and easy to 8magine (as a teacher, I had no issues picturing this kid). Again, realistic and interesting to me. I felt the love interests in here also hit the mark well. Not far-fetched or insta-love, thank you. Where this book fell short was it did not feel cohesive. It felt like it jumped from Parker and her future plans and friend and brother and new friend and anxiety and Finn, the old friend, and never really develops these ideas fully (or to my satisfaction, at least). It had an ending that’s wraps things up. Ish. I guess the best way I can describe it is unpolished? Disconnected and choppy? Maybe a little sloppy in the execution? Again, the basic story line has potential, but I think this one still needs some work to make the different relationships and aspects of the story flow better.

I haven’t cried this much while reading a book in a long time. Not just once or twice, but pretty much a steady stream for the second half of it really. I appreciated the complex relationships of the whole family, and how each member was affected by and coped with cancer. There’s a way in which every family member is a “cancer survivor,” changed forever by it.

Really well written story about family and growing up. I think the authors writing style was excellent and it was overall a very engaging story - although at other times it felt a little dry.

Leder, Meg. Letting Go of Gravity. Simon Pulse, 2018.

Charlie and Parker are twins, but that's where their similarities end. Charlie has had leukemia twice and is now in remission, although he has one more year of high school to finish. Parker has just graduated first in her class, has an elite internship at the local hospital, and is headed to Harvard where she will be studying to be a pediatric oncologist. As Charlie and Parker clash throughout one summer, each must confront what others expect of them and what they actually want.

Even though Parker is really the main character of this story, she is not the only well-rounded character. Many of the characters are fully three-dimensional, flawed, and real. This isn't a book that is action-packed or compelling reading, but it is a thoughtful character study of what happens to the siblings of people who have serious illnesses. Parker and Charlie's entire family had to make sacrifices for Charlie, but it takes a summer of lying to her parents for Parker to realize the truth about herself and what she really wants. Recommended.

Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: language, underage drinking and drug use, domestic violence
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Read-Alikes: You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone, All the Bright Places, My Sister's Keeper

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.

Currently unable to access epub books but this looks fantastic and I can't wait to read it when it is published. Thank you!