When We Were Infinite

Wow. Absolutely, stunningly wow. Kelly Loy Gilbert is an artist, that’s the only way I can describe her writing. I haven’t come across writing that tells such a good story in such a beautiful and interesting way since Maggie Stiefvater. The prose by KLG is unmatched in today’s Young adult genre and I’m incredibly happy I was given the opportunity to read this.

When We Were Infinite dives straight into the mind, body, and soul of a teenage girl and drags the reader through the mud and ultimately, to the top of the mountain. The way serious themes of this book were expertly written is not to be understated. It is not easy to successfully write about suicide, depression, emotional turmoil, and insecurity all in one novel.

I often believe that current Young Adult readers have a better grasp on their emotions and their feelings that other generations, and I truly believe this novel is going to resonate. A full five stars for this beautiful piece of work.

Quiet and aching, all together beautiful. Kelly Loy Gilbert's books are just really something, and if you haven't picked one up, you're missing out.

Well written, I feel like this would be a great book to share with some of my older students. The topics are heavy but handled well in the way that Kelly Loy Gilbert wrote the story. I liked the pacing and the characters. I felt like she worked in some difficult topics in a way that would lend themselves to good, open discussion with my students. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert is an amazing view into a group of high-achieving Asian-American teenagers. This book tackles mental health, suicidal ideation, friendships, relationships, family concerns, the process of applying to college and admissions decisions, and identity. I highly recommend this book! The way it approached these teenager's lives felt very "real", and the character's voices were unique. 5/5 stars.