Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
Synopsis taken from goodreads. Clicky on the book to add it to your goodreads TBR list because if it’s not already there it really needs to be.
Aristotle is a pretty disgruntled teenager (just like most of us were I feel) He’s 16 an in an awkward phase, people experimenting, kissing for the first time, making life long friends, pondering about what it means to be him, and a part of his family, why his parents don’t speak about his older Brother. Ari isn’t the loser at school, he’s not popular, he just kind exists.
Dante is a vibrant kid, older than his years suggest, a reader, a painter, an explorer. Easy to talk to and will become quick friends with people but rarely close friends. When Ari and Dante meet and the swimming pool and start swimming together they become fast friends even without much in common on the surface.
Do you ever get that feeling when you read a book? Like something has just settled over you, transported you into the story and swept you up higher page by page?
I didn’t expect to feel so much while reading this but I felt like the Author turned up my senses without letting me know. I was over come with the emotions that Ari and Dante dealt with. I felt like a confused 17-year-old and it was horrible and wonderful and I just can’t get over how well written this whole book is. The words felt like they would settle over me and physically change my mood to suit what was happening with the book.
This book is simple, truly simple, a story about coming of age and Benjamin Alire Saenz could have crushed me 1000 times over, he could have broken my heart in multiple scenes and I am ever grateful that this story was written for more than a shock factor.
I recommend this book to everyone that hasn’t picked it up yet. I can’t describe the feeling I got from this amazing story but I highly HIGHLY think you should pick it up and experience the beautiful world Benjamin Alire Saenz has created.
Recommended to everyone that has or will be 17 years old.
5/5 STARS
This book has been on my bookshelf for a few months now. I just might have to bump it up my TBR list. Great review, loved it!
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I hope you love it as much as I did, I had it on my TBR for a while but finally everyone telling me I had to read it got the best of me XD Thank you! Xx
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I read this book and absolutely loved it. Did you know the author is releasing a sequel. I can’t wait for it. There’s so much I want to know.
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I DIDNT KNOW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SEQUEL!! You have just made my day 🙂 As much as I love this as a standalone I can’t wait to see more Ari and Dante 😀
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Yes I agree. I loved it as a standalone too, but I also wanted more after that ending and I was so excited when I heard there was going to be a sequel. 😊😊
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Oh man! That’s super exciting news. Do you know anything about it? A cursory internet search gives nothing but a late 2017/early 2018 release date.
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All I know is that the title is There Will Be Other Summers and if it takes off form where it left off I will be so happy. Yeah hopefully we get it next year. It’s crazy to think that this was published in 2012 and is just now getting recognition.
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I have read Aristotle & Dante! I really liked it. But I do feel it may have been a bit overhyped.
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I think I skipped the hype train by waiting it out + I really had no idea what it was going to be like so I was amazed by the way it made me feel when I was reading it 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it, the hype was crazy when this came out its part of the reason I put it off for so ling but I kinda wish I had picked it up earlier 😛
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Great review! I read this a while back, and I absolutely adore this book. It was so beautiful and emotional and wonderful. I love your suggestion for everyone who has been or will be 17. That’s exactly the age I could have used this book.
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Thanks you! I adored it too, everything about the tone was amazing and I wish I could have read it when I was younger as well 🙂
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Some books just come out too late, don’t they? 🙂
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I haven’t yet read it. I didn’t even know about the book until this review. I will definitely add it to my TBR. It does sound pretty awesome!
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book so much, it’s one of my favourites and I can’t wait to reread it! The hype is definitely worth the book – it’s just so beautiful and heart touching and ohmygod, just purely wonderful! I can’t wait for the next book to come out, I really hope it lives up to this one! 🙂
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It was so much more then what I was expecting, I don’t even know what I was expecting but this book went beyond my expectations and I loved it 🙂
I can’t believe there’s going to be another book! So exciting 😀 I hope it lives up to this as well but even if it doesn’t this works pretty well as a standalone 🙂
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I loved each of the characters so much and everything was just perfect! I’m excited but so very nervous about how it’ll be, my expectations are so high! But yes, this one definitely works well by itself 🙂
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I honestly CAN NOT believe I haven’t read this yet. For some reason I just keep getting distracted and I have no idea why because I want to read it SO BADLY. I’m really glad you enjoyed it Casey! I’m definitely going to try and get to it soon. Great review ♥
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YES! I recently finished this book myself, and I have been trying to write my review for about a week now. There is just so much to say about Ari and Dante, but so little I can share without giving things away– or even for fear of telling their story poorly.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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I know! That’s why I tried to stick to the basics and tried not to mention anything plot wise 🙂 They are just such amazing characters its hard to explain how the book really makes you feel to someone that hasn’t read it XD I recommend just writing READ IT over and over again bahahahah XD I’ll keep an eye out for your review!
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Ha- maybe I’ll steal that idea! read it read it read it read It read it!!!!
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Oh boy. Not sure I want to go back to being 17 lol Lovely review as always! I’ve seen the cover around, but never explored further.
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It’s a great story but it does bring back all your teen emotions and the craziness of being 17 XD Next time your looking for a contemporary YA I highly recommend this one , it’s just fantastic 😀
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I only read it a short time ago as I kept hearing about it – and I loved it despite that Ari did an awful lot of ruminating and thinking! I got hooked and just had to know how it ended, and it was so lovely – I also loved reading about their world 🙂 Nice review!
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I loved Ari and all his internal struggles he faced, I think Dante had the perfect personality to offset Ari’s and they worked really well together 🙂
Thank you! I loved reading about their world to 😀
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I’ve been seeing this one around. It sounds like a cracking read!
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It was fantastic! And so different then I expected it to be. The whole tone of the book was beautiful and the characters felt so real 🙂 Highly recommend it !
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Yesss, this was such a wonderful coming of age story! I heard all the rave reviews, and I was hesitant, but it was so good! Ari and Dante’s friendship was so sweet – even though there was some angsty moments, I loved the ending ❤
Glad to hear you enjoyed it too!
Geraldine @ Corralling Books
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