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Two Winters
The winter of 1997 is a tragedy waiting to happen. Small-town life isn't easy for seventeen-year-old, bisexual and closeted Paulina, especially when her best friend Mia becomes pregnant and doesn’t want to tell the baby's father, Paulina's other best friend, Tesla. Meanwhile, Paulina's secret relationship with volleyball star Ani is about to go public. One fateful night, everything changes forever.
In the winter of 2014, Perdita, bi and proud in Chicago, is weeks away from turning seventeen. She loves her two moms, but why won’t they talk about her adoption? When Perdita meets improv performer Fenton, she discovers both a kindred soul and a willing accomplice in her search for the truth. Will Perdita find what she's looking for?
Two Winters is a contemporary YA retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale about birth, death, Catholic school, improv comedy and the healing nature of time.
In the winter of 2014, Perdita, bi and proud in Chicago, is weeks away from turning seventeen. She loves her two moms, but why won’t they talk about her adoption? When Perdita meets improv performer Fenton, she discovers both a kindred soul and a willing accomplice in her search for the truth. Will Perdita find what she's looking for?
Two Winters is a contemporary YA retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale about birth, death, Catholic school, improv comedy and the healing nature of time.
254 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2021
3 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Emily Whalen
16 books25 followersLauren Emily Whalen is the author of the YA novels SATELLITE (2017) and TWO WINTERS (2021), and the YA nonfiction book DEALING WITH DRAMA (2020). Her short story "I Saw Her Again" appears in LINK BY LINK: A SPIRITED HOLIDAY ANTHOLOGY (2020). Lauren is also an actor and very amateur aerialist, and lives in Chicago with her cat, Versace, and an apartment full of books. Follow her on Instagram at laurenemilywrites.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 15, 2021
Two winters
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. My initial reaction was “wow cool plot” and …it was accurate. This was such a cool read people!
Now this book is a retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” so I just wanna say that I’ve never read/seen/heard of it. I’m a creole woman guys- acclaimed European literature is not my thing. That being said- perhaps someone who actually likes Shakespeare may have a different view on it.
My view though is, Lauren Emily did a good job at this! A book split into two half’s in two different times is always a tricky thing to write that I often see authors struggle with, but Lauren did fine!
The first half of the book starts in 1997 and introduces us to Mia, Tesla, Paulina and Xander. Mia, pregnant, Tesla, the father and Paulina the main narrator, an in the closet bisexual. Xander isn’t really that big of a part of this but he does have a crush on Mia and is actually important to part 2 of the book.
The second half of the book follows the daughter of Mia. Now year 2014, after being given up by Mia, Perdita is at that point in her life where she’s wondering about her biological mother. Little did she know that Fenton, improv director, would lead her to her biggest clue.
I really enjoyed Paulina’s stream of consciousness in her narration which is actually a rare for me since I hate first person point of views however the same cannot be said for Perdita’s. I suspect this is due to the authors attempt to draw contrast between 1997 vs 2014, this attempt fell short for me. It may be accurate, I’m not sure 2014 was 7 years ago but it did manage to make the book awkward for me. Honestly I don’t know why the author didn’t just make Perdita a college student, I could definitely imagine myself being more comfortable with a more mature version of her.(I have no idea if this was to keep up with the 1997 age of her biological mother or if it has anything to do with Shakespeare, I suspect the former which does make sense but still perhaps a more mature mind would’ve been more settling)
The second half of this book could’ve used a bit more length to be honest. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Fenton and Perdita which could be attributed to the pacing of this short second half. Also I felt like this situation could’ve been more strung out! More buildup to the actual reveal. I did like the ending but again, more buildup would’ve been amazing! . Unless this was intentional to match the pacing of a Shakespeare play which again, not much of a Shakespeare fan so I wouldn’t know.
So I guess my only real and logical complaint is wasted potential.
4 stars! But mostly for the first half, I did not enjoy the second half as much as I did the first.
Do I recommend? Sure! This is an okay read.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in return for the honest review!
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. My initial reaction was “wow cool plot” and …it was accurate. This was such a cool read people!
Now this book is a retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” so I just wanna say that I’ve never read/seen/heard of it. I’m a creole woman guys- acclaimed European literature is not my thing. That being said- perhaps someone who actually likes Shakespeare may have a different view on it.
My view though is, Lauren Emily did a good job at this! A book split into two half’s in two different times is always a tricky thing to write that I often see authors struggle with, but Lauren did fine!
The first half of the book starts in 1997 and introduces us to Mia, Tesla, Paulina and Xander. Mia, pregnant, Tesla, the father and Paulina the main narrator, an in the closet bisexual. Xander isn’t really that big of a part of this but he does have a crush on Mia and is actually important to part 2 of the book.
The second half of the book follows the daughter of Mia. Now year 2014, after being given up by Mia, Perdita is at that point in her life where she’s wondering about her biological mother. Little did she know that Fenton, improv director, would lead her to her biggest clue.
I really enjoyed Paulina’s stream of consciousness in her narration which is actually a rare for me since I hate first person point of views however the same cannot be said for Perdita’s. I suspect this is due to the authors attempt to draw contrast between 1997 vs 2014, this attempt fell short for me. It may be accurate, I’m not sure 2014 was 7 years ago but it did manage to make the book awkward for me. Honestly I don’t know why the author didn’t just make Perdita a college student, I could definitely imagine myself being more comfortable with a more mature version of her.(I have no idea if this was to keep up with the 1997 age of her biological mother or if it has anything to do with Shakespeare, I suspect the former which does make sense but still perhaps a more mature mind would’ve been more settling)
The second half of this book could’ve used a bit more length to be honest. I didn’t feel any chemistry between Fenton and Perdita which could be attributed to the pacing of this short second half. Also I felt like this situation could’ve been more strung out! More buildup to the actual reveal. I did like the ending but again, more buildup would’ve been amazing! . Unless this was intentional to match the pacing of a Shakespeare play which again, not much of a Shakespeare fan so I wouldn’t know.
So I guess my only real and logical complaint is wasted potential.
4 stars! But mostly for the first half, I did not enjoy the second half as much as I did the first.
Do I recommend? Sure! This is an okay read.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in return for the honest review!
January 24, 2022
This was an interesting read. Definitely something unique in the world of lesbian fiction. Not a romance. There were a lot of characters and they were intertwined in different ways which culminates into a major event that changes lives forever. I've never read 'A Winter's' Tale' by Shakespeare. So I can't comment on the themes/similarities there. But while this focuses on young people in high school, I wouldn't consider this a young adult book. This deals with very heavy subject matter. It is not a happy or uplifting book but I am glad for having read it.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2021
Thank you so much to Bold Strokes Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
A powerful retelling of The Winter’s Tale with an emphasis on tragedy, faith, judgement, and resilience.
Before I get into things I loved about this book (and there were lots of things I loved about it), I just feel I need to share my two big complaints with it.
Firstly: trigger warnings. This book is filled with jarringly dark and gruesome material completely sans trigger warnings, which I found to be really dangerous, especially considering that this book is YA. That being said, the full list of TWs will be at the bottom of this review.
Secondly: the marketing. This book should not have been YA in the first place. The writing is done in a style that feels more adult in nature and the content is incredibly dark and confronts some really heavy issues. And though I do not believe that certain themes should not be considered off-limits for younger audiences, I think they do need to be written about differently depending on the age of the readers. The book is written with an assumed retrospective awareness that comes with adulthood. Teenagers won’t have the same contextual understanding of “right” and “wrong” that adults do, and this could be again, REALLY dangerous. As an adult myself, I was able to see the lack of support and the learned behavior that affected these characters’ perspectives and actions and why they were irresponsible or ill-informed, but younger audiences will not be able to plug into that in the same way without proper explanation or education included in the text.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the book itself.
The retelling is done INCREDIBLY well. Two Winters masterfully deconstructs and recreates The Winter’s Tale in a profound and relevant context. It simultaneously honors the initial text while making contemporary changes for additional layers of meaning.
The things I specifically loved about it:
In The Winter’s Tale, I found a big issue with the way that Leontes makes unhinged, life-ruining decisions on the behalf of others without reason and is then later on forgiven just due to the passing of time. In this version, Tes (aka Leontes) is shown to be a good and kind person who earns and deserves the respect of others, and instead of being active in the downfall of those he loves, he is shown to be someone far too young with far too much responsibility on their shoulders. When he can't take anymore, he breaks under the pressure, accidentally causing these awful events to occur through indirect action and impulse, rather than just out of what seems to be pure evil in the initial text. It makes his redemption not only feel earned but necessary and wanted.
Though I am not Christian and therefore can’t fully understand the religious comparisons made in this retelling, I still found them to be a wonderful choice and parallel. The constant comparison of the characters to Mary/Jesus/Judas/etc. elevated the themes of faith and betrayal, making the relevancy of their actions feel timeless and fateful. The timelessness in particular also helped push along the discussion of the function of time and serves the purpose of the work as a retelling. Another reason why I found the religious aspects and the theme of faith to be incredibly powerful is the way it directly relates to the religious discussions in The Winter’s Tale. In Winter’s Tale, Apollo’s oracle is consulted, and when the prophecy is rejected by Leontes, it kickstarts the tragedies, implying that the rejection of faith is the downfall of humanity. This book looks at that critically, instead harshly illustrating the ways that religious institutions can cause just as much, if not more harm, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ individuals and sex education. Instead of praising blind acceptance of faith, Two Winters makes its characters question everything they are taught to believe by their religious society, and especially its figureheads.
Two Winters is likely one of the most careful retellings I’ve seen done, with nearly every action, intention, and character found in a parallel in the text. Even Mopsa is mentioned - even if she’s a car lol!
Lastly, a quick list of nitpicks:
-For a book written by what seems to be a white author, this book comments on race a LOT. It didn’t seem to be done in a harmful manner, but it still was not the author’s place to comment on it as much as she did.
-The writing was frivolous and tangential at times, and lots of little lines or moments just frankly didn’t need to exist and took up unnecessary space without serving the story.
-The MC’s father died at war and worded it saying that he “[wasn’t] even fighting the bad guys,” which obviously overly simplifies the complexities of war and refers to an entire nation as “bad guys.”
-Florizel is my favorite character in The Winter’s Tale and says such BEAUTIFUL and heart-melting lines such as "For I cannot be Mine own, nor anything to any, if I be not thine. To this I am most constant, Though destiny say no”, but his counterpart in this book at one point literally says "“ever since I saw you try to play Zip, Zap, Zop, there’s been… something about you.” All I can say is that he deserves better.
Overall, a worthy read, I just wish my expectations had been set up differently.
TW: teen pregnancy, death, child death (semi-off-page), car accident (on-page), gun violence, suicide (accident, semi-off-page), blood, death of parent (father, past, brief), bullying, religious bigotry, victim blaming, homophobia/biphobia, transphobia (a SC is kicked out of their home), deadnaming (brief), racism (discussed, brief), pedophilia (off-page, brief), alcoholism, underage drinking, abandonment, animal excrement, infidelity (kiss)
A powerful retelling of The Winter’s Tale with an emphasis on tragedy, faith, judgement, and resilience.
Before I get into things I loved about this book (and there were lots of things I loved about it), I just feel I need to share my two big complaints with it.
Firstly: trigger warnings. This book is filled with jarringly dark and gruesome material completely sans trigger warnings, which I found to be really dangerous, especially considering that this book is YA. That being said, the full list of TWs will be at the bottom of this review.
Secondly: the marketing. This book should not have been YA in the first place. The writing is done in a style that feels more adult in nature and the content is incredibly dark and confronts some really heavy issues. And though I do not believe that certain themes should not be considered off-limits for younger audiences, I think they do need to be written about differently depending on the age of the readers. The book is written with an assumed retrospective awareness that comes with adulthood. Teenagers won’t have the same contextual understanding of “right” and “wrong” that adults do, and this could be again, REALLY dangerous. As an adult myself, I was able to see the lack of support and the learned behavior that affected these characters’ perspectives and actions and why they were irresponsible or ill-informed, but younger audiences will not be able to plug into that in the same way without proper explanation or education included in the text.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the book itself.
The retelling is done INCREDIBLY well. Two Winters masterfully deconstructs and recreates The Winter’s Tale in a profound and relevant context. It simultaneously honors the initial text while making contemporary changes for additional layers of meaning.
The things I specifically loved about it:
In The Winter’s Tale, I found a big issue with the way that Leontes makes unhinged, life-ruining decisions on the behalf of others without reason and is then later on forgiven just due to the passing of time. In this version, Tes (aka Leontes) is shown to be a good and kind person who earns and deserves the respect of others, and instead of being active in the downfall of those he loves, he is shown to be someone far too young with far too much responsibility on their shoulders. When he can't take anymore, he breaks under the pressure, accidentally causing these awful events to occur through indirect action and impulse, rather than just out of what seems to be pure evil in the initial text. It makes his redemption not only feel earned but necessary and wanted.
Though I am not Christian and therefore can’t fully understand the religious comparisons made in this retelling, I still found them to be a wonderful choice and parallel. The constant comparison of the characters to Mary/Jesus/Judas/etc. elevated the themes of faith and betrayal, making the relevancy of their actions feel timeless and fateful. The timelessness in particular also helped push along the discussion of the function of time and serves the purpose of the work as a retelling. Another reason why I found the religious aspects and the theme of faith to be incredibly powerful is the way it directly relates to the religious discussions in The Winter’s Tale. In Winter’s Tale, Apollo’s oracle is consulted, and when the prophecy is rejected by Leontes, it kickstarts the tragedies, implying that the rejection of faith is the downfall of humanity. This book looks at that critically, instead harshly illustrating the ways that religious institutions can cause just as much, if not more harm, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ individuals and sex education. Instead of praising blind acceptance of faith, Two Winters makes its characters question everything they are taught to believe by their religious society, and especially its figureheads.
Two Winters is likely one of the most careful retellings I’ve seen done, with nearly every action, intention, and character found in a parallel in the text. Even Mopsa is mentioned - even if she’s a car lol!
Lastly, a quick list of nitpicks:
-For a book written by what seems to be a white author, this book comments on race a LOT. It didn’t seem to be done in a harmful manner, but it still was not the author’s place to comment on it as much as she did.
-The writing was frivolous and tangential at times, and lots of little lines or moments just frankly didn’t need to exist and took up unnecessary space without serving the story.
-The MC’s father died at war and worded it saying that he “[wasn’t] even fighting the bad guys,” which obviously overly simplifies the complexities of war and refers to an entire nation as “bad guys.”
-Florizel is my favorite character in The Winter’s Tale and says such BEAUTIFUL and heart-melting lines such as "For I cannot be Mine own, nor anything to any, if I be not thine. To this I am most constant, Though destiny say no”, but his counterpart in this book at one point literally says "“ever since I saw you try to play Zip, Zap, Zop, there’s been… something about you.” All I can say is that he deserves better.
Overall, a worthy read, I just wish my expectations had been set up differently.
TW: teen pregnancy, death, child death (semi-off-page), car accident (on-page), gun violence, suicide (accident, semi-off-page), blood, death of parent (father, past, brief), bullying, religious bigotry, victim blaming, homophobia/biphobia, transphobia (a SC is kicked out of their home), deadnaming (brief), racism (discussed, brief), pedophilia (off-page, brief), alcoholism, underage drinking, abandonment, animal excrement, infidelity (kiss)
September 13, 2021
In the winter of 1997, Paulina and her Catholic high school friends are all carrying around secrets. Paulina likes both guys and girls, but right now, she would love not to have to hide her relationship with Ani, the volleyball star. Tesla and Mia are pregnant, and Tes is thinking of proposing. Xander has a crush on Mia and won’t admit it, but Tesla suspects it. This year school is a powder keg ready to explode, and then tragedy hits.
In the winter of 2014 Perdita is a bright teenager with two moms. She loves improv and is very curious about her adoption. With the help of Fenton, a sweet and sympathetic friend, they are determined to find out the truth of her birth parents.
I love retellings, and 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 is a unique twist on Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Letters written to Mia’s baby interwoven throughout, give a personal and heartfelt touch. This story has great diversity in its characters and discusses topics such as bullying, homophobia, and racism. If you’re looking for something a little different in the young adult section to try, I recommend 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @laurenemilywrites for a gifted ebook.
In the winter of 2014 Perdita is a bright teenager with two moms. She loves improv and is very curious about her adoption. With the help of Fenton, a sweet and sympathetic friend, they are determined to find out the truth of her birth parents.
I love retellings, and 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 is a unique twist on Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Letters written to Mia’s baby interwoven throughout, give a personal and heartfelt touch. This story has great diversity in its characters and discusses topics such as bullying, homophobia, and racism. If you’re looking for something a little different in the young adult section to try, I recommend 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @laurenemilywrites for a gifted ebook.
August 17, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Two Winters in exchange for an honest review.
If you're adapting Shakespeare and no one's bi, you're doing something wrong. I haven't read A Winter's Tale (yet, I actually have to soon for a class) so I can't speak to how this works as an adaptation, but it definitely stands on its own outside of the source material.
Maybe it's because I haven't read the source yet, but this felt a lot less forced than other modern Shakespeare retellings I've read. All of the characters are really complex and messy and their turbulent moods and decisions always make sense and seem like a natural extension of the plot. I do think a few things (particularly in the modern part) felt a bit rushed, but this was a gem.
If you're adapting Shakespeare and no one's bi, you're doing something wrong. I haven't read A Winter's Tale (yet, I actually have to soon for a class) so I can't speak to how this works as an adaptation, but it definitely stands on its own outside of the source material.
Maybe it's because I haven't read the source yet, but this felt a lot less forced than other modern Shakespeare retellings I've read. All of the characters are really complex and messy and their turbulent moods and decisions always make sense and seem like a natural extension of the plot. I do think a few things (particularly in the modern part) felt a bit rushed, but this was a gem.
September 15, 2021
The 90s. Religion. Dixie Chicks. Homophobia.
Are you a Shakespeare fan? When I was younger, I never thought I was, but what I’ve come to realize as an adult is that while I don’t love reading his stuff, I have enjoyed many retellings of his work and Two Winters has just been added to the list, as I enjoyed it so much I finished it in one sitting.
Two Winters is a contemporary YA retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale about birth, death, Catholic school, improv comedy and the healing nature of time. I loved that this was a more mature YA and touched on so many important topics. I definitely recommend this one to older YA fans and those wanting to revisit the 90s.
Are you a Shakespeare fan? When I was younger, I never thought I was, but what I’ve come to realize as an adult is that while I don’t love reading his stuff, I have enjoyed many retellings of his work and Two Winters has just been added to the list, as I enjoyed it so much I finished it in one sitting.
Two Winters is a contemporary YA retelling of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale about birth, death, Catholic school, improv comedy and the healing nature of time. I loved that this was a more mature YA and touched on so many important topics. I definitely recommend this one to older YA fans and those wanting to revisit the 90s.
September 11, 2023
I don't remember A Winter's Tale well enough to compare it to the Shakespeare play on which this is based, but I do remember really liking the play when I read it a lifetime ago.
Two Winters has been in an inactive hold at the library for two years and in the absence of anything else I really wanted to read, it was time to clear this from that list. It revolves around a group of friends living in a small town and attending the local Catholic high school, who are navigating their senior year with several secrets. Paulina is bisexual, but she's not out to anyone, mostly because the girl she's making out with can't be out. Paulina's friend Mia is pregnant, and only Paulina knows--not Mia's boyfriend, Paulina's best friend, Tesla, and definitely not Mia's parents. Xander, the last of the quartet, is in love with Mia, and Tesla is suspicious and jealous. All of this festers until one night when all their lives are changed forever. The second half of the book jumps forward about 15 years and follows the life of Perdita, as she navigates high school in Chicago while also trying to understand who she is, as she's adopted but knows nothing about her bio-parents.
Two Winters is hard to read. Not because it's poorly written but because it's so sad. I can't remember if Shakespeare put his characters through such devastation before ending happily (this is one of his comedies, after all), though I have no doubt he did, but Lauren Emily Whalen is unrelenting with the angst. Ultimately, all's well that ends well, but it's rough going.
Overall it was okay. I'm glad I finally read it.
Two Winters has been in an inactive hold at the library for two years and in the absence of anything else I really wanted to read, it was time to clear this from that list. It revolves around a group of friends living in a small town and attending the local Catholic high school, who are navigating their senior year with several secrets. Paulina is bisexual, but she's not out to anyone, mostly because the girl she's making out with can't be out. Paulina's friend Mia is pregnant, and only Paulina knows--not Mia's boyfriend, Paulina's best friend, Tesla, and definitely not Mia's parents. Xander, the last of the quartet, is in love with Mia, and Tesla is suspicious and jealous. All of this festers until one night when all their lives are changed forever. The second half of the book jumps forward about 15 years and follows the life of Perdita, as she navigates high school in Chicago while also trying to understand who she is, as she's adopted but knows nothing about her bio-parents.
Two Winters is hard to read. Not because it's poorly written but because it's so sad. I can't remember if Shakespeare put his characters through such devastation before ending happily (this is one of his comedies, after all), though I have no doubt he did, but Lauren Emily Whalen is unrelenting with the angst. Ultimately, all's well that ends well, but it's rough going.
Overall it was okay. I'm glad I finally read it.
February 3, 2023
Two Winters is a queer, contemporary retelling of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. That is one bumpy ride of a plot to transpose into the modern day, and I thought the author did an excellent job, note for note. (What happened to the Antigonus character really took me by surprise.) The character of Leontes (now Tes) was made more sympathetic in this version, which I think was a good idea. This story has to have a ton of tragedy and then have a happy ending, and I thought that came off pretty well! I did feel that the ending of Two Winters was contrived and unrealistic, but truly this matches the source material, so what are you gonna do? I'm not sure if this is a YA novel or written for adults, but all the POV characters are teenagers. I think the perfect audience for this book are queer people who like The Winter's Tale (me) and people who have a lot of feelings about Catholicism and Catholic school (not me.)
One important thread in this book is
Perdita has two best friends who were great. She also loves clocks and time, and this nerdy side of her character is fun. The one thing I would have wished changed is that Perdita first fell in love with clocks when her moms brought her to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich by chance when it started raining. That museum is not really near anything except the park so I can't picture how you would be just passing by unless you meant to go there in the first place. But that is one tiny nit-picky thing in a novel I overall enjoyed quite a lot.
One important thread in this book is
Perdita has two best friends who were great. She also loves clocks and time, and this nerdy side of her character is fun. The one thing I would have wished changed is that Perdita first fell in love with clocks when her moms brought her to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich by chance when it started raining. That museum is not really near anything except the park so I can't picture how you would be just passing by unless you meant to go there in the first place. But that is one tiny nit-picky thing in a novel I overall enjoyed quite a lot.
September 19, 2021
This is a unique young adult novel. It is a retelling of Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' which I have not read, so I can't say how similar or dissimilar it is. I went into this expecting something completely different from what I got; which isn't a bad thing. This was a lot darker and emotional than I thought it was going to be but it is a very compelling novel and I pretty much read it in one sitting.
It follows two perspectives. The first is Paulina's, who is a bisexual girl in the late 1990s, is in love with a high school volleyball star who is deeply closeted and who is also keeping the secrets of her closest friends. The second narrator is Perdita, an adopted teenager in 2014 who despite being incredibly happy with her mom's, desperately wants to know where she comes from and why her parents are so secretive about her origins. I went into this expecting it to flip narratives every other chapter but it didn't. The first half is from Paulina's perspective and the second half is Perdita's. That format worked incredibly well for this novel, and I can't see it having worked any other way.
I definitely enjoyed the first half more than the second. Paulina is a much more engaging narrator and despite often being frustrated at some of the things going on, I was much more invested in her as a character. Perdita, on the other hand just didn't click with me and there were far too many coincidences and overly dramatic revelations in the second half for me, it also didn't feel as emotional or raw as the first part which was done beautifully. In all honesty, the first half is probably 4*'s for me and the second about 2.5/3 but I did appreciate Perdita's story.
The writing is compelling and it moves along quickly. All of the characters have a lot going on and they read like teenagers which is always a plus. One of my biggest complaints is that we didn't get more Xander, as I feel he could have added a lot more to the story and that the Cameron plotline was left hanging for so long and never really explored.
There is a wildly diverse cast of characters in this which I appreciate and it manages to convey an interesting and compelling story without hitting readers over the head with issues or difficult events. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely pick up more by the author.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It follows two perspectives. The first is Paulina's, who is a bisexual girl in the late 1990s, is in love with a high school volleyball star who is deeply closeted and who is also keeping the secrets of her closest friends. The second narrator is Perdita, an adopted teenager in 2014 who despite being incredibly happy with her mom's, desperately wants to know where she comes from and why her parents are so secretive about her origins. I went into this expecting it to flip narratives every other chapter but it didn't. The first half is from Paulina's perspective and the second half is Perdita's. That format worked incredibly well for this novel, and I can't see it having worked any other way.
I definitely enjoyed the first half more than the second. Paulina is a much more engaging narrator and despite often being frustrated at some of the things going on, I was much more invested in her as a character. Perdita, on the other hand just didn't click with me and there were far too many coincidences and overly dramatic revelations in the second half for me, it also didn't feel as emotional or raw as the first part which was done beautifully. In all honesty, the first half is probably 4*'s for me and the second about 2.5/3 but I did appreciate Perdita's story.
The writing is compelling and it moves along quickly. All of the characters have a lot going on and they read like teenagers which is always a plus. One of my biggest complaints is that we didn't get more Xander, as I feel he could have added a lot more to the story and that the Cameron plotline was left hanging for so long and never really explored.
There is a wildly diverse cast of characters in this which I appreciate and it manages to convey an interesting and compelling story without hitting readers over the head with issues or difficult events. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely pick up more by the author.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2021
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“Two Winters” is a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale,” and I enjoyed reading it.
Let me preface by saying that I have not read the particular title by Shakespeare, so I’m not sure how close the retelling was. But, reading this without any comparison, I did enjoy the book. The author splits the story into two halves, of two different storylines set in two different timelines. Yet, some characters connect between them both, which makes it interesting to read.
Frankly, I enjoyed both the story arcs. Paulina is charming in the first half, where you see her struggling with her sexuality and how she gets immersed in Mia and Tes’s life. The author creatively adds shocking moments surrounding Paulina’s love for Ani, which nicely added to the plot. Even the side story of Blair-Marie Elliott was captivating. However, I felt that the author wrote the romance much better in the second half surrounding Perdita. Perdita and Fenton make a great pair as they try to find answers to her past. One of my favorite passages from this timeline was when Perdita goes to Havendale and is in awe of the vibrant colors of the sky and the clouds. Even though it is a small moment, I loved how the author captured Perdita’s emotions.
Moreover, the author also changes the style of writing by changing the perspectives between the two timelines. I also liked the letter inserts from someone ‘she doesn’t know’ who throws in hints about the past. This book turned out to be a lovely novel.
Overall, “Two Winters” is a charming book to pick up if you are in the mood for some emotional drama or a fan of Shakespeare.
September 23, 2021
The author says in her synopsis that this is a contemporary young adult retelling of Shakespeare’s THE WINTER’S TALE. (I did go on good old Wikipedia after reading this book to read Shakespeare’s synopsis.)
This book tells the story of two winters in Illinois. The first is the winter of 1997 in Havendale, Illinois - a small farm community 3 hours south of Chicago.
The second winter is in 2014 in Chicago.
The 1997 timeline is narrated by high school junior, Paulina. She tells of life as a bisexual and also tells how she and her 3 closest friends are navigating life and the problems that each of them are facing.
The 2014 timeline is narrated by 16 year old, Perdita. She tells of her own life as an adopted daughter with two moms. Perdita wants to know more about her birth story, but neither mom is forthcoming with any information. Perdita meets a guy and with his help she makes some startling discoveries.
These timelines intertwine to tell an amazing story, but I don’t want to give any of the read away.
I will tell you that I’m still thinking about this book. I felt like the hot topics discussed (and there a ton) are incorporated into this book in a very impressive and well timed manner. In this book there is mystery, tragedy, redemption, sexual orientation, love, family dynamics,and most importantly the impact of friendship.
The characters are written with such precision that they felt real to me.
My favorite parts of this book are the letters written by some of the characters which move the story along and give the character and story so much depth and feeling.
The ending..I read it three times and cried every time.
This book tells the story of two winters in Illinois. The first is the winter of 1997 in Havendale, Illinois - a small farm community 3 hours south of Chicago.
The second winter is in 2014 in Chicago.
The 1997 timeline is narrated by high school junior, Paulina. She tells of life as a bisexual and also tells how she and her 3 closest friends are navigating life and the problems that each of them are facing.
The 2014 timeline is narrated by 16 year old, Perdita. She tells of her own life as an adopted daughter with two moms. Perdita wants to know more about her birth story, but neither mom is forthcoming with any information. Perdita meets a guy and with his help she makes some startling discoveries.
These timelines intertwine to tell an amazing story, but I don’t want to give any of the read away.
I will tell you that I’m still thinking about this book. I felt like the hot topics discussed (and there a ton) are incorporated into this book in a very impressive and well timed manner. In this book there is mystery, tragedy, redemption, sexual orientation, love, family dynamics,and most importantly the impact of friendship.
The characters are written with such precision that they felt real to me.
My favorite parts of this book are the letters written by some of the characters which move the story along and give the character and story so much depth and feeling.
The ending..I read it three times and cried every time.
Read
September 22, 2021Two Winters is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. This is one I have not read so I can't say how comparable the retelling is but this is a great upper YA story. The story is told in two timelines, the first being 1987 when Paulina is 17 and her best friend Mia is pregnant and trying to keep it secret from everyone, including the father, Tesla. Paulina is also in a secret relationship with a school athlete, both are bisexual and not out. The second half of the book takes place in 2014, Perdita is 17, adopted, and really wondering where she came from. We also see some flashbacks in the form of letters from Mia and Tesla. This is an engaging book but does cover some heavy topics such as teen pregnancy, homophobia, and bullying, but it's not so heavy as to be tedious. It's also a story of choices and how they can affect our life and future. I recommend this and give it 3.75 of 5 stars and thank Suzy's Approved Book Tours, Lauren Emily Whalen, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
September 28, 2021
TWO WINTERS by Lauren Emily Whalen is a contemporary YA adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Split between the winters of 1997 and 2014, the book follows high school junior Paulina, who is navigating life as a bisexual teen, all while blindly supporting her group of friends through their own struggles. When tragedy strikes, the story picks up in 2014 through Perdita's eyes, as she seeks to find the true story of her birth mom.
This is one Shakespeare play I have never read, so I went into the story blind. I was immediately captivated by the eerie foreshadowing laced throughout the book. The plot is super engaging and I wanted to keep reading, so I could piece together how the two timelines and all the characters fit together. The characters were multi-faceted and faced some pretty heavy issues (teen pregnancy, homophobia, Catholic religion) and they were all handled beautifully.
I am still thinking about this book, even though I read it a couple weeks ago. The story was so well done. If you enjoy Shakespeare adaptations or contemporary retellings, this is a book you should definitely pick up!
Thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours for having me on tour and to the author for the gifted copy!
This is one Shakespeare play I have never read, so I went into the story blind. I was immediately captivated by the eerie foreshadowing laced throughout the book. The plot is super engaging and I wanted to keep reading, so I could piece together how the two timelines and all the characters fit together. The characters were multi-faceted and faced some pretty heavy issues (teen pregnancy, homophobia, Catholic religion) and they were all handled beautifully.
I am still thinking about this book, even though I read it a couple weeks ago. The story was so well done. If you enjoy Shakespeare adaptations or contemporary retellings, this is a book you should definitely pick up!
Thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours for having me on tour and to the author for the gifted copy!
October 11, 2021
Two Winters is a beautiful, tragic, and complex well crafted story about four teenagers. The first half focuses on Paulina a bisexual who keeps everyone secrets. Mia who is pregnant by her boyfriend Tesla, and Xander the only Africa American in the entire catholic school.
The second half takes place in 2014 and is about Perdita a sophomore who is adopted and lives with her two moms. She wants to know her heritage. When her moms would not give her an answer about her biological parents she and started investigating with the help of Fenton.
The story was not what I expected and came together beautifully. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I definitely recommend. Well done Ms. Whalen. 4 stars'
I received an ARC copy from the publisher Bold Stokes books Inc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The second half takes place in 2014 and is about Perdita a sophomore who is adopted and lives with her two moms. She wants to know her heritage. When her moms would not give her an answer about her biological parents she and started investigating with the help of Fenton.
The story was not what I expected and came together beautifully. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I definitely recommend. Well done Ms. Whalen. 4 stars'
I received an ARC copy from the publisher Bold Stokes books Inc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 15, 2021
This was a different kind of love story. Mia and Tesla were dating and had feeling for one another. They were 17 and Mia became pregnant. The plot of the story is how the pregnancy was kept secret by Mia because of her parents and the Catholic Church.The story follows Mia and Tresla until a tragedy comes. The story has good characters and delves into religion's views on gay lifestyle and pregnancy before marriage and being old enough to care for a child. This is a very emotional story and is told somewhat in the form of letters written by Tesla and Mia to an unborn and unknown child. I found the book heartwarming and not so much a romance as love between a parent and a child.
I received this book as an ARC for Netgalley but my thoughts and opinions are my own
I received this book as an ARC for Netgalley but my thoughts and opinions are my own
September 8, 2021
Wow! I guess I didn't really read the synopsis before I jumped into this one and I'm glad I didn't. It's a retelling of Shakespeare's "The Winter Tale" (which I've never read...). I can't tell you if it's accurate to the original story, but I can tell you that it's a fantastic book!
A group of friends. A catholic school. A pregnant teen. A bisexual teen. Everyone has their secrets. One dreadful night it all comes tumbling down. And then the story picks up 17 years later and carries on. Simply fantastic!
A group of friends. A catholic school. A pregnant teen. A bisexual teen. Everyone has their secrets. One dreadful night it all comes tumbling down. And then the story picks up 17 years later and carries on. Simply fantastic!
September 10, 2021
This story is told through two time periods, 1997 when Mia is pregnant, and then 2014 where we follow Mia's child.
I really liked the way the story was told. It was compelling, and I found myself connected to multiple characters! They had great emotion and depth, and felt so real. I really enjoyed the story, and while I enjoyed the first part a bit more than the second, I felt it ended well, and made for a great adaptation!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I really liked the way the story was told. It was compelling, and I found myself connected to multiple characters! They had great emotion and depth, and felt so real. I really enjoyed the story, and while I enjoyed the first part a bit more than the second, I felt it ended well, and made for a great adaptation!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
September 10, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an earc
I've never read "A Winter's Tale" so I can't say anything about how good this retelling was but I did really enjoy this book. The first half of the book was heartbreaking and I really loved the friendships. And then the second half was interesting and I loved Perdita and how she was determined to know about her adoption. I love how it all came together and I loved the letters that were written.
I've never read "A Winter's Tale" so I can't say anything about how good this retelling was but I did really enjoy this book. The first half of the book was heartbreaking and I really loved the friendships. And then the second half was interesting and I loved Perdita and how she was determined to know about her adoption. I love how it all came together and I loved the letters that were written.
September 14, 2021
Two Winter's is a retelling of Shakespeare "A Winters Tale"
The story is told through multiple timelines, 1997 where Mia is pregnant and then 17 years later when Mia's daughter is 17 years old. I enjoyed this story telling. The characters were well written and I enjoyed the nod to the original story.
This was a great retelling of the story and having read the classic, this adaption was really a great take. The plot was nicely paced and well thought out.
The story is told through multiple timelines, 1997 where Mia is pregnant and then 17 years later when Mia's daughter is 17 years old. I enjoyed this story telling. The characters were well written and I enjoyed the nod to the original story.
This was a great retelling of the story and having read the classic, this adaption was really a great take. The plot was nicely paced and well thought out.
December 3, 2023
This is a really great read. It has two parts where one starts in the 90s and then restarts in 2014. I'm not going to lie, I didn’t think I'd give it 5 stars because I hate a story that kills off child characters, but it is so well written, that I couldn’t not give it 5 stars. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good story to read.
October 10, 2021
This book has so much heart in it. I loved the characters, especially the revealing letters they wrote, and it was so well-written that I was immediately drawn into the story and I didn't want to put it down. It's a quick read that's very thought-provoking and emotional as it covers a lot of tough situations and hard topics, but I also found it to be heart-warming and hopeful. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2022
You may have reservations about translating the fantastical elements of A Winter’s Tale to 1997 central Illinois, but it works wonderfully. The book captures that moment and place in time with such specificity and detail, all while embracing the Bard’s tale with love and affection.
February 13, 2023
Wow. Okay. I was not expecting to love this as much as I did.
This just got me out of a 3 month reading slump.
This just got me out of a 3 month reading slump.
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December 17, 2025the writing wasn't very good but i think it did well with the adaptation aspects
December 27, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book beyond reading the synopsis, but I was very pleasantly surprised! Two Winters is a YA retelling of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, which I have not read so I don't know how close of a retelling it is. I know from reading a summary of The Winter's Tale that there are many similarities, in characters, timeline, and some of the plot, although reimagined of course. I don't include a synopsis in my reviews because if the book appeals to you enough to read a review, you've probably already read the synopsis. :)
I loved the first half. Paulina is an engaging narrator and was easy to identify with. I loved the way the author used letters written by other characters to the baby to inject their point of view into the narrative, since it is told in first person. There were many twists and turns, some the author left clues for that you could figure out, and some that I didn't see coming. The book kept me reading because I wanted to find out what happens.
I liked the second half a bit less, but it was still good. A little harder to identify with Perdita, I don't know if it is because she is less mature, or we just don't get far enough into her head. The plot was enjoyable, and the ending was overall nicely wrapped up, although I felt like it ended rather abruptly. I would have liked at least one more chapter or an epilogue to explain how things will play out in the long run. There is an epilogue, but it clarifies some things from earlier in the book, not the future.
I did feel like her friends, who were experiencing a teen pregnancy, were very naive. However, they are high school students so that may be very accurate. This is a YA about teenagers, but I would not recommend for young teens. It is pretty dark, there is quite a bit of talking about sex, and some characters die somewhat gruesome deaths. I don't think it glamorizes teen pregnancy, but the characters don't deal with it well (again, teens). The only other reason it wasn't five stars for me was that some of the plot twists seemed a bit unbelievable or a bit much, but I think that was probably in keeping with the Shakespeare retelling.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book if the synopsis appeals to you. There is a lot of BIPOC and LGBTQ rep, there is found family, and it kept my interest and made me want to keep reading.
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I loved the first half. Paulina is an engaging narrator and was easy to identify with. I loved the way the author used letters written by other characters to the baby to inject their point of view into the narrative, since it is told in first person. There were many twists and turns, some the author left clues for that you could figure out, and some that I didn't see coming. The book kept me reading because I wanted to find out what happens.
I liked the second half a bit less, but it was still good. A little harder to identify with Perdita, I don't know if it is because she is less mature, or we just don't get far enough into her head. The plot was enjoyable, and the ending was overall nicely wrapped up, although I felt like it ended rather abruptly. I would have liked at least one more chapter or an epilogue to explain how things will play out in the long run. There is an epilogue, but it clarifies some things from earlier in the book, not the future.
I did feel like her friends, who were experiencing a teen pregnancy, were very naive. However, they are high school students so that may be very accurate. This is a YA about teenagers, but I would not recommend for young teens. It is pretty dark, there is quite a bit of talking about sex, and some characters die somewhat gruesome deaths. I don't think it glamorizes teen pregnancy, but the characters don't deal with it well (again, teens). The only other reason it wasn't five stars for me was that some of the plot twists seemed a bit unbelievable or a bit much, but I think that was probably in keeping with the Shakespeare retelling.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book if the synopsis appeals to you. There is a lot of BIPOC and LGBTQ rep, there is found family, and it kept my interest and made me want to keep reading.
Thank you to NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
October 28, 2022
Phenomenal. The story was a little slow to start, but once I made it past the first few chapters, I couldn't put it down. There's a lot of emotion packed into the first part of the story. I'd dock half a star for the ending, but it was still nicely written. As far as Shakespeare retellings with abundant queer representation go, this is not one to miss.
May 26, 2022
TWO WINTERS by Lauren Emily Whalen is a contemporary retelling of Shakespeare's THE WINTER'S TALE. While Shakespeare's play deals with royalty and nobility, Whalen's young adult novel centers around average people from a small town in Illinois and is set in the winters of 1997 and 2014. It's a quiet book that deals with teen issues without becoming an "issue book." It also features a diverse cast of characters who face many of the struggles one would expect those of marginalized identities to face.
The prose is strong, and the story is well-paced. In the wrong hands, it might have been too brief for the number of characters and complexity of the plot, but Whalen delivers a tightly-packaged story with enough information to know and feel for the characters and a plot that's easy to follow despite the complicated web of relationships. Aside from a few trigger warnings, my only advice is to keep in mind that this is a Shakespeare retelling with an appropriately Shakespearian ending...and a fabulous take on one of Shakespeare's most infamous pieces of stage direction. Forget plausibility. Enjoy the emotional resonance, because it's beautifully executed. It's a quick and enjoyable read, and I definitely recommend it!
Trigger Warnings*: gun violence, homophobia, bullying (incl. homophobic bullying), teen pregnancy, suicidal ideation, racism, pedophilia/molestation, death of a child, physical violence, infidelity
*Bear in mind, many of these are oblique references or mentioned in passing, and all are handled with care.
The prose is strong, and the story is well-paced. In the wrong hands, it might have been too brief for the number of characters and complexity of the plot, but Whalen delivers a tightly-packaged story with enough information to know and feel for the characters and a plot that's easy to follow despite the complicated web of relationships. Aside from a few trigger warnings, my only advice is to keep in mind that this is a Shakespeare retelling with an appropriately Shakespearian ending...and a fabulous take on one of Shakespeare's most infamous pieces of stage direction. Forget plausibility. Enjoy the emotional resonance, because it's beautifully executed. It's a quick and enjoyable read, and I definitely recommend it!
Trigger Warnings*: gun violence, homophobia, bullying (incl. homophobic bullying), teen pregnancy, suicidal ideation, racism, pedophilia/molestation, death of a child, physical violence, infidelity
*Bear in mind, many of these are oblique references or mentioned in passing, and all are handled with care.
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