Floored

This book does so much right. The premise is clever and executed perfectly. The story takes place over several years after our six protagonists first meet, and we get to peek into their lives for about a day of each of the following years. We get to see them go from teens to adults. We see them become better people, follow their dreams, make hard decisions and just grow.

Despite how little we get to see into each character's life because it is only a day every year and we have six different characters to cover, they all feel remarkably well developed. There is diversity in every sense of the word and none of it feels like a cheesy PSA smashing you over the head.

Usually, when a book is written by this many authors the flow gets a bit choppy. That isn't the case here. The narrative flows well from character to character and into the omniscient chapters. I never felt like I was reading something hastily stitched together. It felt seamless. The characters had distinct voices and personalities but it felt like a cohesive work and I certainly didn't dare hope that high coming in.

This whole book is filled with characters making bad decisions and growing from them. It's hard not to at least get angry at each character once. Yet, sitting down I can't really think of a definitive favourite. Kaitlyn is the character I identified with the most. Hugo, the absolute asshole is my favourite of the boys. Velvet's chapters were fantastic to read. Joe's were definitely the most heartbreaking. I felt terrible for Sasha, and Dawson was just such a good guy usually.

It's hard to say much else without spoiling something. So much happens and, though the ending was a little to open-ended for my liking, I absolutely fell in love with this read. If it had been written in a different way it might not have hit as hard, but I think even then this are fabulous and loud characters who'll stick with you. It's also wonderful to see characters make bad decisions, be punished and then be forgiven and do better. That's something that's not too common in young adult literature.

I definitely recommend this, even to people who are hesitant to pick up a contemporary read. Its unique storytelling style will keep you invested. Plus the chapter art is wonderful.