Lina DC 01/09/2019"Bright Side” is narrated in the first person by the protagonists Kate and Keller. Kate is a 19-year-old who moves from sunny California to Minnesota, more specifically to Grant City to start college. It would be a simple and everyday situation, if not for the protagonist's family history.
Moving to Grant, Kate meets her mother's aunt and half-sister Maddie. Maddie is a snob, lives in her own little world, and has the ability to rewrite the story according to her needs. She is a charismatic character who is difficult to connect emotionally because her actions are frustrating.
Kate has only two people in her life she can count on: Gus, her childhood best friend and the one who nicknamed her "Bright Side” and Gus's mother Audrey, who was the only mother in every way possible that Kate had. That's because her birth mother, Janice, was a motherfucker, leaving Kate and her sister Grace on their own early on. That is, Kate had to mature early.
For Kate, life is simple. She loves to sing, play the violin, coffee and sunset. Her dream is to become a special education teacher and is extremely passionate about life. She takes advantage of every second and encourages everyone to do the same. Every obstacle in your path has a solution, including a spoiled roommate like Sugar.
Gus is the constant presence in Kate's life. Even though they are miles apart thanks to Gus's success, they talk almost every day. One calms the other and knows exactly what they are feeling just by tone of voice. It is a true friendship, strong and beautiful to behold.
Gus and his band are starting to hit and are starting a tour. That way, every night he's in a different city and despite enjoying the growing fame, he doesn't forget about his "Bright Side”, wondering about Kate's daily news, no matter how silly.
While Gus is on tour, Kate is making friends and living college life. She knows Clayton is an initially shy young man, as he is used to being prejudiced because of his sexual choice. However, by receiving love and encouragement from Kate, he becomes a lively, cheerful and confident character. So is Pete, your roommate. Pete has a nerdy, shy way and a lot of difficulty talking, but "Bright Side” is interacting with him, making jokes and Pete becomes someone more talkative and laughing.
So is Shelly, the daughter of the florist's owner where Kate will work. Shelly is serious, closed and not willing to make new friends. For her, friendship with her boyfriend Duncan and Keller is more than enough. But how can you resist someone who can smile no matter what?
Despite all this joy, Kate hides a big secret and because of it, the protagonist is not willing to have a romantic relationship with anyone, much less fall in love. But how can she avoid giving her heart away by meeting Keller Banks, a local coffee shop clerk, with a smiling, mystery-filled look?
Like Kate, Keller doesn't want to fall in love. His past has shown that relationships are not in his way and all he wants is to graduate from law school and follow through with the plans laid out so that he can really start life. But upon meeting Kate, Keller will realize that life has begun and that he is not enjoying everything he could.
The dynamic between Kate and Keller is beautiful to read. There are so many feelings that make the romance unique and unforgettable.
The story has a unique sensitivity and it is impossible to read and not get emotional. The characters are very well built, their personal stories complement the central story very well and make the reader connect with each one. The author has a ravishing writing and can pass the feelings to the pages as purely as possible.
"- Make it epic." (p. 63)
"Bright Side” is a testimony about life, about overcoming sadness and focusing on the best. No doubt it is a story that makes the reader humble as he observes Kate's strength and the impact she is capable of making on someone's life just by smiling.
"I know it's weird, but I like to think of God as my friend. I'm not religious; I just talk to him often. I ask a lot of favors. Sometimes things work for me, and sometimes not. It's life.". We just need to make the most of it. " (p. 44)