How it All Blew Up is a good book. The concept especially is why I decided to buy it, because sometimes it does just feel easier to run away from it all.
However, a few leaps were taken to get Amir to Rome, and I think I would have loved it if Amir had been provided a more realistic reason to head to Rome of all places - especially when he spends so little time actually exploring Rome (to the point where really the book could have been set anywhere).
Amir could be relatable at times but very rarely, and mostly he felt like a bit 2D with little motivation to do much at all. That little motivation could make the book fall stagnant at times - especially with the lack of heading to new and interesting foreign destinations (I mean he's an American in Rome, that's an expensive trip and it just feels wasted). The character development definitely could have been improved too.
The relationships between the characters were dynamic, though, and even if they weren't always all that healthy, they kept things interesting enough to keep reading - and definitely made the book more than 'just okay'.
However, a few leaps were taken to get Amir to Rome, and I think I would have loved it if Amir had been provided a more realistic reason to head to Rome of all places - especially when he spends so little time actually exploring Rome (to the point where really the book could have been set anywhere).
Amir could be relatable at times but very rarely, and mostly he felt like a bit 2D with little motivation to do much at all. That little motivation could make the book fall stagnant at times - especially with the lack of heading to new and interesting foreign destinations (I mean he's an American in Rome, that's an expensive trip and it just feels wasted). The character development definitely could have been improved too.
The relationships between the characters were dynamic, though, and even if they weren't always all that healthy, they kept things interesting enough to keep reading - and definitely made the book more than 'just okay'.