Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum Published by Delacorte Press on May 7, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 304
Source: Blog Tour
My content rating: YA (Nothing more than kissing, Some drinking, Themes of death and illness)
My rating:
The New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things and What to Say Next delivers a poignant and hopeful novel about resilience and reinvention, first love and lifelong friendship, the legacies of loss, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.
Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.
Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.
Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers?
Buxbaum is a genius at contemporary storytelling, and this book is no exception. She manages to pack so much into 300 pages without ever making it feel overwrought or unrealistic. You would be hard-pressed to read this book and not come out of the experience thinking about 9/11 differently.
What Fed My Addiction:
- Opposing goals. Abbi wants to move on with her life and get past the one thing that has always defined her. She wants to ignore the possible repercussions of that day (which I can’t talk about because it would be a spoiler). Noah wants to understand the day that took his father away–he needs to know what happened to him. I ended up loving both of these characters so much that I was rooting for both of them. But these two opposing goals are impossible to reconcile and they make for a great conflict.
- 9/11. I’ve only read one other book about 9/11, and it was a middle grade that tackled the subject in a more classroom-type setting. This story was fictional (the picture that the book is based on and the characters portrayed are not real) but the scenario that Buxbaum creates is intensely personal, which makes the tragedy of 9/11 itself more personal. This isn’t a discussion of the motives behind the attack but instead examines the lives of those left behind. I did learn a few things about 9/11, though—I didn’t realize that so many people suffered from illnesses due to the chemicals in the air. For most of us, 9/11 is a bad memory (or, for teens, not even that), but there are still many people living with the repercussions today.
- Fleshed out secondary characters. Buxbaum is amazing at this. I felt like I knew every single character in this story, even if they were very minor. Each person was three-dimensional and knowable (and likable, at least in some ways–even those you weren’t sure about). From Jack, Noah’s best friend who plays a key part in the story, right down to Brenden, Jack’s love interest with a tiny role in the book, you learn details that made you feel like you know them!
- Noah’s comedy. How to write a book about 9/11 that isn’t depressing? Make one of your main characters love comedy. Noah and Jack were a hilarious duo, and Abbi herself managed to be funny when she was around Noah (a fact that surprised even her). Who doesn’t love snappy banter? (Without having snarky characters–a balance that’s unusual and hard to achieve.)
- Slow-burn, adorkable romance. The romance in this book doesn’t develop overnight. No love at first sight here. Instead, Abbi and Noah have some definite friction at the beginning. The other thing I LOVED about this book was that Noah and Abbi aren’t all suave and passionate–they felt like two real teens, and often their relationship was strained and awkward and goofy. Such a breath of fresh air!!!
- Family! Abbi’s relationships with her parents and grandmother are center stage in this book (and they’re SO positive). Noah’s relationships are slightly more complicated, but they’re not full of the usual YA angst, and we get to see his parents as real people. The family relationships in this book are perfect! (Well, okay, they’re imperfect, but they are portrayed perfectly.)
- Subplots. I don’t usually specifically note these, but Buxbaum manages to infuse so much into one story without making anything feel ignored or maudlin. Beyond the plotline regarding 9/11, we’ve got a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s, a serious illness, a best friend relationship that’s faded away, and a few will-they-won’t-they romances for the secondary characters. And that’s just what I think of off the top of my head! I have no idea how all of these things are woven into the story so seamlessly and perfectly—it seems like witchcraft!
What Left Me Hungry for More:
- Bad decision with few repercussions. Abbi makes a very poor decision about her health that just gets a tiny response. I was expecting a bit more consequences—or at least a stern talking-to.
- No information? There were a couple of times when I wondered why Noah couldn’t find the information he was looking for, considering how much he’d researched things. When it all comes to light, it seems like someone would have talked about it sometime in their small(ish) town.
Honestly, I feel like I could just keep talking, but soon this review would be as long as the book. But that’s the type of read that I love—one that keeps me thinking about it long after I’ve put the book down. As you can see, my negatives for the book were tiny compared to the positives. Filled with humor and heart, Hope and Other Punchlines reminds us of the frailty of life and how we need to hold onto every precious moment, but it also reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
About The Author
Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, What to Say Next and the forthcoming Hope and other Punchlines (out May 7, 2019.) She’s also the author of two critically acclaimed novels for adults: The Opposite of Love and After You. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and more books than is reasonable.
3 winners will receive a finished copy of HOPE & OTHER PUNCHLINES, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
5/1/2019- Dani Reviews Things– Review
5/2/2019- Lone Tree Reviews– Review
5/3/2019- Lifestyle Of Me– Review
Week Two:
5/6/2019- Jena Brown Writes– Review
5/7/2019- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review
5/8/2019- Ex Libris– Review
5/9/2019- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review
5/10/2019- Struck by Stories– Review
Week Three:
5/13/2019- Belle’s Archive– Review
5/14/2019- BookHounds YA– Review
5/15/2019- Life of a Literary Nerd– Review
5/16/2019- Savings in Seconds– Review
5/17/2019- Resch Reads & Reviews– Review
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48 responses to “Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum: Review & Giveaway”
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So excited to see your great review for this one! I loved Buxbaum’s Tell Me Three Things and have been looking forward to HAOP. My library doesn’t have it yet but I’m stalking them for it. 🙂
Buxbaum has definitely made it onto my favorite authors list. I’ve loved all of her books!!
I’ve never read this author, but I’m so curious about this one. I was actually 11 when 9/11 happened, and weirdly enough, I was in my history classroom when they turned the news on. I like that the author wrote such great characters, as that’s something I love, especially in contemporary novels.
-Lauren
So many of us remember that morning really vividly. I was at home and my husband was driving to work and called to tell me to turn on the news. I could hardly believe it when I saw what was happening. And when the second airplane struck it was utterly terrifying.
I love her books and so excited to get to this one. 9/11 can be tricky and being close to NY I feel I get more critical about so I am curious to see how she handles it.
I’ll be really curious to see your thoughts since it hits a lot closer to home for you.
Sounds very inspiring, thanks!
It is!
I’ve read both of Julie’s other works and this review now has me really excited for this one as well!
I’ve loved all her books!
I’ve not tried this author, and I will be looking up both books. Despite the few niggles you had this sounds well done.
I think my absolute favorite is still her first book, but I really loved this one too!
I loved Tell Me Three Things so I’m really excited for this one. Love an adorkable romance! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
You should read her first book as well—I still think that one’s my favorite!
I have Tell Me Three Things by this author to read this month. Now you’ve made me want to read this one as well. Very compelling review and I am totally sucked in.
I really enjoyed Tell Me Three Things too. Hope you enjoy(ed) it!
This book sounds amazing with that premise. That terrorist attack changed so many lives. I’m excited to read this book and her others too.
Yes, the book really focuses on the aftereffects of the attack and the people left behind, rather than the attack itself. I actually kind of liked that.
This one looks awesome, I can’t wait to read it!
Ash @ JennRenee Read
Hope you love it!
This sounds sooo good! I love getting different perspectives of an event that can affect my views of it.
Me too!
Oooh this sounds so GOOD! So I was super on the fence about it- I have read two 9/11 books, and one was handled beautifully, and one was… just not. And so I have been a little wary of picking up another, but you sold me! Now I need this in my life, obviously! Great review!!
Now I’m curious about what 9/11 books you’ve read—I’ve only ever seen one (a middle grade).
All We Have Left by Wendy Mills and The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner!!?
Thanks. Guess I won’t check them out since you were underwhelmed, but I was curious since I hadn’t seen other 9/11 titles.
Noooo All We Have Left was awesome!!!
Oops! Yes, I should have reread your comment again before I responded to the reply. Good to know. I’ll check that one out!
This one has been added on MY TBR for weeks Nicole but in audio as I love the narrator! I am so sad I am not living in the US as I would enter your giveaway in a heartbeat!
Oooh, now I’ll have to go see who the narrator is. Hope you love it!
This sounds really good!
It is! 🙂
Chemicals in the air are the worst! I have MCS and it’s interesting to live with it. I’ll be making a personal post on it soon because it’s something I want to raise awareness for. I hadn’t seen this book before but I’m definitely intrigued!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
I had never heard of MCS (I had to go look it up—you should do a post on it). Sorry you’ve had to deal with that!!
Yay for adorkable romances! I skimmed your review since I have this one on deck to read. I’m on a blog tour for this one as well, and I’m super pumped about reading this one. I love books that can change your way of thinking, or at least challenge you to view something from a different perspective.
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ?
Hope you enjoy it!
I picked up an ARC of this at the bookstore where I work the other day. I haven’t read a book with 9/11 storylines in a while. I’m even more intrigued to read it since you enjoyed this one. Great review!
That was a great find! Hope you love it!
This sounds so good. I’ve read a couple of books that focused on 9/11 but this one sounds like it has a unique perspective on it. I really enjoyed the last book I read by this author so I’m looking forward to trying this one as well. Great review!
I’ve enjoyed all of Buxbaum’s books, so I was glad to keep up the winning streak. 🙂
I saw the Michael Moore documentary film, Sicko, which featured several 9/11 emergency workers and showed how they are still suffering severe health problems all these years later, mostly to do with their lungs and breathing. I think being aware of what happens to people in the aftermath of such a momentous event is just as important as understanding the event itself.
I had no idea about those aftereffects. So very sad!
I don’t read many contemporary books but this story and the way you described the main and secondary characters has me intrigued. I love that humor was used, especially with a difficult subject as 9/11. Many had no closure and the ones there at the time still suffer. Thanks Nicole! ❤️❤️
Yes, I think humor was a nice way to diffuse a tough story.
This book sounds amazing and I haven’t ever read a book around 9/11. I was thinking of starting with Tell Me Three Things but now I don’t know. They both sound like books I would love and I’m so glad you enjoyed another story by her!
You can’t go wrong with either of them. I also loved What to Say Next.
Oh yes, the characters here definitely have some opposing goals and you get to see that very clearly here. I am glad you were able to really love this story. I have to agree in that I haven’t read many 9/11 centered books, and I love that the secondary characters and family are so well fleshed out. But we always have to be careful — bad decisions need to have consequences.
It was interesting to see a book focused on the aftermath of 9/11 for sure.