Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Book Review: The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Hey all! Today (or rather the day I'm posting this) is my first day back to school, meaning summer has officially ended. Summer seems to have flown by yet again this year, and as I was thinking back on the summer I remembered this incredible book I read last year that I still feel did not get enough praise.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life
A "mesmerizing, poetic exploration of family, friendship, love and loss" - The New York Times Book Review. 
Sal used to know his place with his adoptive gay father, their loving Mexican American family, and his best friend Samantha. But it's senior year, and suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and realizing he no longer knows himself. If Sal's not who he thought he was, who is he? This humor-infused, warmly human look at universal questions of belonging is a triumph.


The Inexplicable Logic of my Life was Sáenz's highly anticipated next novel after the wildly successful Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. And as much as I loved Ari and Dante, I think I am one of the few who loved this novel even more. Sal and I are at similar points of life right now as I approach the end of high school in these next two years and begin to step out into an unknown territory.

Like many of Sáenz's novels this book is character driven which is exactly the reason I adore them so strongly. His characters are always so well developed and so strong, allowing me to feel as if I know them even if their story is nothing like my own. Unlike his more well known novel, this novel does not focus on a romantic relationship, but rather on the relationships between families and friends. The main friendship in this story between Sal and Samantha reminded me so much of my own best friend as we are also a boy and girl pair and I saw so much of us in them. Which is exactly why I love his novels so much, because of how real, personable and memorable every single part is.

This book is so beautiful, as are the words inside and it has impacted me so strongly that I can remember how it made me feel even a year later. It is a book focused on changes and real people yet is still so enjoyable to read, and I recommend it to just about anyone looking to read a book that will make them think and feel something.

Have a great September!
-Claire

check the book out here!
amazon barnes and noble goodreads

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