When the Light Went Out by Bridget Morrissey

Goodreads

Publication Date: June 1st, 2019

Genre: YA Contemporary

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Fire, and Bridget Morrissey for an advanced e-book copy of this novel in an exchange for an honest review!

"When your locked in a room with no door, rearrange the furniture"

This is a story of seven friends still dealing with the aftermath of the trauma of losing their friend Marley 5 years ago. It starts at Marley's yearly memorial and an unexpected guest shows up. I liked the bonding of growing up together and how the neighbourhood shapes bonds between the characters. Girls who are too pointed, too much and sometimes written off as being too much. Which is what we are encouraged not to be. There was gun safety discussions and suicide discussions and moving past trauma that affects friends. The story alternates between present time and 5 years ago, when Marley was still alive.

The bond between Olivia and Aidy was interesting and watching them play power games with each other and eventually work their way through things. I really liked the quote at the top, that showed how to look at something different.

I really liked the novel, it was complex and well written in terms of grief and the difficult topics in the book.

4/5

I'd recommend this to anyone who likes YA novels or someone looking to read a difficult book.

Cheers,

Jen