Tiny In Toronto

So I kind of debated on writing a review for this book because I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. Part of me only wants to share the books that I love, but maybe it’s more of a book for you than it is for me! I don’t want you to miss out on it just because I wasn’t obsessed. I really wanted to like this book because it was last month’s book for Belletrist (Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss’ book club) and I love them. I usually love their monthly book picks. I respect them so much and they inspire me to create a book club of my own someday so I don’t want to not like one of their book picks, but I kinda did.

The Lightness by Emily Temple was different. Emily Temple’s writing style is great. The story (and I’m just being 100% honest) just didn’t interest me very much. I’m still glad I read it because I learned some things and that’s all I ever ask for when reading a book. The Lightness is just not a book that I would go on about to all of my friends, you know?

It’s about a girl named Olivia who’s father leaves her and her mother. He (the person she adores most in the world) just disappears and Olivia doesn’t know what to make of it. Is he dead? Where did he go and how does she get him back? The last place her father was that she can trace is at the Levitation Center. She enrolls in this summer program there for troubled teens looking for answers, and to get away from her abusive mother. She steals a credit card, pays for this summer program, then meets three girls that she will never forget: Laurel, Janet, and Serena. Laurel is the quintessential beauty, Janet is the quiet and mysterious one, and Serena is their leader. The energy that these girls have whenever their in a room draws Olivia to them instantly. She just has to be their friend, or at least learn more about them. They see something in her as well and they soon become a foursome.

Now a lot happens but the main focus of this book is figuring out Serena and why she is so determined to learn how to levitate and experience “ultimate lightness”. Serena’s passion is contagious and it easily makes the rest of them want to learn as well. It becomes their mission that summer. They try everything. They drink alcohol, (I think) they choke each other (?), at night they perform “The Feeling”, and they create a special diet with this tea made from a weed that they concoct in the kitchen when no one is watching. But most of all, they need Luke’s help. Luke is the “hot guy” that tends the garden at the center. Apparently, Serena has seen him levitate and strongly believes that he can teach them how. All the girls are obsessed with him (and tbh, I don’t understand why).

Explaining the rest would be spoiling the novel for you. I never do novels justice when trying to write a *brief* synopsis, and I apologize for that. However, if you would like to find out whether they actually learn how to levitate or achieve ultimate lightness, and if any of them end up with this Luke fellow, give this book a read! Like I said, I learned a lot. They touch on a lot of interesting facts about Buddhism in this novel if that’s also something you’re into.

Overall, I think I’d rate this book 3.5/5 stars. If you end up reading this, or have already read it, please let me know your thoughts in the comment section! Maybe I didn’t pay enough attention and need to read it again!

Stay well and stay safe!

Until next time,

– Tiny ❤