Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith is a contemporary novel all about first love. The characters are dynamic, and the topics are hard-hitting. This is a perfect novel for fans of Becky Albertalli to add to their summer TBRs.

Author: Amber Smith
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: June 18, 2019
Rating:


Chris and Maia aren’t off to a great start.
A near-fatal car accident first brings them together, and their next encounters don’t fare much better. Chris’s good intentions backfire. Maia’s temper gets the best of her.
But they’re neighbors, at least for the summer, and despite their best efforts, they just can’t seem to stay away from each other.
The path forward isn’t easy. Chris has come out as transgender, but he’s still processing a frightening assault he survived the year before. Maia is grieving the loss of her older sister and trying to find her place in the world without her. Falling in love was the last thing on either of their minds.
But would it be so bad if it happened anyway?


❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith
This book tells the story of Chris, a transgender boy who falls in love for the first time, and Maia, a girl who has recently lost her sister. Both characters deal with hardship, and the story is ultimately about their self-discovery and journey to find their place in the world. I enjoyed the use of dual narration, as it is interesting to experience their first meeting and their view of the world from differing perspectives. As well, this is one of the few books I have read in which the main character is transgender, and this representation is so important. I can’t speak to the book’s accuracy myself, but while the author is not transgender herself, I feel like the book does a great job conveying the plot and addressing related topics with sensitivity.
❀ Well-Developed Characters
Both Maia and Chris are developed characters, and I enjoyed reading both of their narrations. Maia has just lost her sister, and she is obsessed with recreating Mallory’s photos I could really sympathize with her as the depiction of her grieving process is quite emotional. Personally, I liked Chris more than Maia because I didn’t agree with some her Maia’s decisions. Chris is a very patient character, and he doesn’t tell lies, unlike Maia. He is realistic, and watching him fall in love is so wholesome. I adored Chris, and I would definitely read a companion novel about him.
❀ Balance of Softness and Seriousness
One of the book’s strengths is the way it handles topics like assault and grief. There is a nice balance of softness and seriousness, and the mix of emotions brings a lot to the plot. Chris’s assault is not the main focus of the book, and I enjoyed how this event is not just used for the sake of adding a problem to the story. Instead, it highlights intolerance and brings awareness to the issues that the LGBT community continues to face. Ultimately, these hard-hitting topics are well-executed and thoughtfully written.
❀ Cute and Meaningful
Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith is a book that is both cute and meaningful. There is great representation, and the main characters are complex. As well, the book discusses more serious topics, and it does so in a delicate manner. This is such an important read, and I would recommend it.
I agree with a lot of what you said here. I didn’t like Maia either. In fact, I could have done without her whole point of view. It kind of took away from the story for me. I would have rather spent more time with Chris and learning more about him. My biggest issue with this book was its sleepy feel. I found myself struggling in the middle.
Maia really was a hard character to relate to. I am glad that you enjoyed Chris’ POV, though. I hope that you love the next book you read, Deanna! 😉
I just read another review where they said they didn’t really care for Maia, which is a bummer, but I’m glad you really liked Chris!
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…The Knowing: A Book Review + Giveaway
Yeah, Maia is a tough one for me just because of her poor decisions. I hope that you enjoy it if you do give it a try! 🙂
Nice t hear that the author does a good job with the representation. I like dual perspectives too in a story like this- seeing the same events from two points of view can be neat. I love it when awareness and tolerance are handled well in YA, and sounds like this delivers!
Greg recently posted…The Voronov Plot
I think it was really well done, for sure! 🙂
Cute and meaningful is what I’d like right now. A friend of mine just finished this and she loved it.
Laura Thomas recently posted…Review and Giveaway ~ It’s Murder My Son by Lauren Carr
The best kind of read! I am glad to hear that she enjoyed it as well. 🙂
I always enjoy dual POV’s, and the way they meet is pretty interesting. Awful, but interesting from a story perspective. I know I say this a lot, but MAN, I like that cover!
The dual POVs really make this one and I am loving the cover, too! 🙂
Great review. Sounds very interesting.
Thank you! 🙂
Lovely review! Never read a book with a transgender character and this sounds like a great read! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Raven @ Dreamy Addictions recently posted…HEARTS: A Twisted Wonderland Retelling (The Glass Queendom #1) By Klarissa King [ARC Review]
It is so fantastic to see more diversity in YA! 🙂
Sounds like a nice read.. interesting themes in this one too.