Juniper allows many things to worry her. But she does have more reason than others to do so. He daily Happiness index cards become an obsession, but one which leads her out of the other obsessive rituals she has created, and allows her to open up and start to accept the death of her sister and to move on with her life. Everyone deals with death in different ways, and although this is very different, there are elements which readers can pick out for themselves to allow them to deal with a similar situation. An excellent novel to help overcome grief, guilt and general young adult life.  .

Juniper went though a lot of character development throughout the book. At the start, she was broken and couldn’t imagine life without her sister. But she got over it. That deist mean that she forgot her sister but that she learnt that life still goes on.

It also shows a different way people deal with grief. For Juniper, it was trying to “fix” her friends problems because she couldn’t fix what happened with her and Camilla. And everyone has ways of dealing with grief – even though they aren’t always healthy. Like how Juniper’s mum refused to talk about Camie and what had happened until the very end of the book when Juniper finally showed her that it is okay to talk about these things.

In the end, the book symbolised how we won’t always find the answers we’re looking for but we will find peace.

Not my usual read but I must say I was very pleasantly surprised!

Juniper is dealing with her sisters death and goes on a journey to uncover her sisters secrets in the hopes that it will give her some peace. In doing so she discovers more and more about her sister that she never knew.

Such an interesting idea for a book and quite unlike anything I have read before.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

Juniper's sister persuaded her to start her happiness index, daily cards to write how she's doing every day, but now Camilla is gone and it's harder and harder to find positives to write. When she finds a mysterious letter that her sister wrote before she died, Juniper is determined to find out who it was meant for so she can deliver it herself.
As you read, more of the story becomes clear but the final revelation isn't quite as surprising as the build up makes you expect.

This was a so deep, sweet and strong reading, all at the same time, I've enjoyed it alot

4.5/5 Stars

I want to thank Penguin Random House UK Children's and NetGalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review

The story follows Juniper who recently lost her sister, so we can see her trying to cope with the pain of having lost a loved one. and how it has impacted on her daily life.
One day Juniper finds a letter addressed to a mysterious "YOU", a letter of rupture written by her sister but which has never been sent, reason why Juniper decides to begin to look for this person to discover who he/she is , but it's also a quest that Juniper hopes will help her close the hole she's been feeling since her sister left 

I've really enjoyed the characters, I think everyone has given something special and unique to the plot, although we found some characters that may seem cliché , I think they all play a very important role in the Juniper's life and from the beginning they help with her search in some way or another, besides it's always good to have a great variety of personalities to analyze and to be able to observe different points of view

One of the things I liked the most is the strength that Juniper has during her journey, I think even though she's shattered and deep down she knows she'll never get over what happened, she really tries and every time she falls she gets up again , I admire this character a lot, I can't imagine having such a loss and how he behaved during the book is understandable, in the end I feel that she had a great learning

As I said before the story focuses on the Juniper's search for this person who is totally unknown and mysterious for her, and has been Great, is a very good idea, also make you stay very expectant and make you want to discover what happens next. It has a very deep side that is how to deal with the loss, the suffering, how going forward, the feeling of guilt and many things that have really touched me. In spite of them the book doesn't become too overwhelming or heavy at all, it's fun, light and has given me all those beautiful feelings that I was looking for in a book, I would surely re-read this one

I'm not totally sure about the end, I feel it should have been a bit more closed, but this is of course only my point of view, maybe you feel right about it , I still have enjoyed it, but I feel it had the potential to continue a little bit more

I recommend that you take this book if you're looking for a light reading but full of emotions and with a super important topic as it's how to deal with the loss and to go ahead after it. It has made me spend very beautiful moments, so I would love you to decide to read it to make you feel the same way

This is such a beautiful book about grief, guilt and friendship. It's about how people process and grieve differently. It was interesting to see the family dynamic and how each member of the family were trying to grieve for Camilla in different ways and how it meant that Juniper clashed so much with her mum and how she wasn't able to grieve because her mum got upset every time Camilla was mentioned. 

Though Juniper's motives for getting them together may not have been entirely good, I loved the friendship group that formed throughout the novel. It was obvious how close they were growing in such a short amount of time and it felt real. It felt like what you want in a friendship group.

I also really liked the arty stuff. I loved how the idea of the found collages and how Juniper started to express herself through her art. 

For friendship, realistic characters and Dala horses, Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index is the place to go.

Let me start by saying I didn’t expect much from this book when I first began reading. I had never heard of Julie Israel, never used Netgalley and had not heard of the book prior to receiving my copy. That being said, I’m so glad I stumbled upon this little gem and it completely outdid all of my expectations.

The story centres around a girl named Juniper Lemon and this lost index card (65). Juniper (in memory of her recently lost sister) writes a number for each day on an index card – a sort of indication of how she rated the day. 65 days after her sister’s passing Juniper loses index card 65 whilst at school and her journey begins with the simple task of finding it. Initially the book reminded me of Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell) in terms of its tone and voice but it quickly became clear that this was more than just a coming of age story. Israel opens up a whole complex and compelling narrative from simply a lost card and really makes it into something special. The ‘underdog vibe’ and diversity of high school characters (the typical bad boy, renowned nerd, new kid and bitchy female bully) kind of toys with the line of being cliché but most of the characters are actually explored beyond that surface level and, ultimately, Israel balances this out really well.  

I really liked the way she introduced characters in such a natural way (despite the circumstances under which some of them meet). In particular the friendships between Juniper and the characters she bonds with because of Camilla are simply beautiful. I loved the individuality she gave her characters and Kody and Camilla were the kind of believable, ridiculous friends one really hopes to have in high school. There were moments with them where she (Juniper) suddenly seems to relax and recover a part of herself and that was wonderful to read.  I often read parts on the brink of happy tears (though the rest were definitely sad ones.) It really deals with loss in a clever way by telling us of its unbearable qualities and difficulties and sneaking in the positives gently so we actually perceive Juniper’s healing.

The ‘You’ aspect keeps the narrative from stagnating and as I was reading I was a little conflicted that this might take away from the message. Pleasantly, I was wrong and Israel expertly kept the thread from swinging too far away from her harrowing and important subject matter; the ending is perfectly nuanced to both celebrate Camilla’s life but also to bring closure to Juniper’s. Throughout the book she expertly weaves humour and grief together. Everyone has their own coping mechanisms and this little book has so much to teach about love, loss and understanding. It was beautiful to read and actually, I believe, almost restorative. Sometimes it was simply the way Israel talked about grief that had me brimming with tears; and it’s such a realistic demonstration of it. Grief affects people not just when something directly related happens but during the everyday moments in which the person lost is absent. This book really made me feel that.

It also was a nice sized book from a casual reader’s standpoint. It didn’t take too long to read and left me feeling bookishly satisfied. The only real thing I was disappointed by was my own choice to read a digital copy! Both covers (US and UK) are so cute and would’ve made gorgeous #Bookstagram pictures!

But anyway, it was a thoroughly good read and I’m glad it came into my life.

  4 out of 5

What can I say about this one? I honestly wasn’t sure about Juniper Lemon in the first few page. It gave me a vibe of Jennifer Niven’s All the Bright Places and I really wasn’t a fan of that book (sorry to anyone whos a fan!)……within a couple of chapters, however, I was hooked. I loved the main characters (Nathan and Brand were THE best YA boy characters I’ve ‘met’ in a while) and I really began to feel for Juniper as she tried her best to keep the memory of her sister alive in her world. I *do* think that fans of All the Bright Places and TFIOS would enjoy this one yet it’s original enough for any non fans to pick up and enjoy. 4 Stars for this one

Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index is definitely one of those books that will definitely give me a book hangover. This YA book was amazing and I was sad to reach the end of it. Julie Israel’s characters were well developed and the plot was captivating throughout. A fantastic debut.
It has been sixty-five days since Juniper Lemon’s sister died in a car accident. Juniper has taken Camilla’s bag to school with her, a memento to help her through her first day back at school.
As far as she knows Camilla wasn’t dating anyone when she died so she is surprised to find an unsent breakup letter in the bag. The letter is addressed simply to ‘You’ and is dated 4th July – the date her sister died.
Juniper has been keeping index cards to rate the days since Camilla died. Whilst searching for this unknown ‘You’ Juniper loses one of them. Index card 65 has a shameful secret memory on it, one she is desperate to find before her secret gets out.
Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index begins with Juniper having her class photo taken for the year.
The girl in the picture doesn’t look any different. Things you see: brown eyes. Honey hair to the shoulders. Natural eyeliner.
Things you don’t: stitches. A neck brace. The sleep rings hidden beneath her makeup.
I lower my new student ID card. My throat is tight with all the changes I carry, but won’t find there. Still, I’m grateful not to wear them like a flag on my forehead. Ask me about my tragedy! There’s talk enough without advertising.
Everywhere she goes in school she hears whispers of her name or Camilla’s, whispers that stop when she approaches. Eventually, in despair, she decides to hideout in the library. Kody Hotchkiss sits down with her, not realising who she has sat with until it is too late. Juniper encourages her to stay.
Kody tells her she is hiding from the school bully Morgan Molloy and asks Juniper who she Is hiding from.
'Everyone. But mostly – Lauren.’ Lauren is my real fear today: that the one person I actually want to talk to doesn’t want to talk to me. Maybe what I’m really hiding from is finding out.
One of the striking things about Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index is the ease with which Julie Israel accurately portrays the ways in which grief can impact someone’s life. A common experience for people who are grieving is that those around them are unwilling to mention the name of the person who died, and also that previously close friends begin to avoid them. Both of these things happen on the first day, Lauren her best friend avoids her, people talk about her and her sister but not one person offers their condolences and one of her teachers begins to mention her sister’s name then just stops like she had never said anything.
Mrs Jacobson, after the briefest moments silence, just picks up and goes to the next kid on the list – ‘Darrin Mills?’ – as if that tiny hesitation hadn’t been there.
As if she had never been there.
Another Camilla-Shaped hole.
The absence of her sister is felt in every area of her life. Juniper’s mom refuses to talk about her and leaves the room whenever Camilla’s name is mentioned. Her father just tiptoes around the topic meaning that she has no one she can talk to about her. She isn’t even allowed in her room because it may upset her mom.
Another blank space. I am haunted by them: the pause at Cammie’s name
The gap in my index. The sidesteps where she should be in conversations, but isn’t. Her empty chair at dinner; her toothbrush and her shampoo; her shoes from the entryway, her keys from the kitchen hook, her tea and favourite cereal from the cupboard…
I cant escape the holes .My life is braided through with my sister, and now that she is gone, everything is coming apart.
Because of this absence in her life Juniper becomes fixated on finding the mysterious ‘You’ from the letter and in any connection she still has to Cammie. Her happiness index was something Camila had encouraged her to start because she felt Juniper had a tendency to be negative about situations. This is why it hits her so hard when she loses one of those cards. She will do anything to get it back, even dumpster diving with the school rebel to try and find it.
Brand inexplicably starts hanging around with her and helps her to try and find the index card. In her search for her index card Juniper discovers the secrets of some of the other students and can’t help herself from trying to fix their problems.
Along the way she learns ways to deal with her grief, and to find a way to live with the loss of her sister.
I don’t want to give any spoilers but I will say that the romance in this book and sweet and one you will be routing for.
This book covers many emotive topics, including grief and bullying. Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index is not only about grief, it is about the power of friendship and finding romance in unexpected places.
There wasn’t a single part of this book that I didn’t love.

Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index is a thoughtful story with likable characters and a hopeful message. The suspense added a thread of bittersweet brilliance throughout the story.

Juniper and her sister Cammie’s story is revealed slowly, like a secret. This, combined with brilliant, unpredictable twists keeps the reader in suspense and adds tension to the story which I loved.

As a big fan of YA books, I can honestly say juniper lemon ticks off everything you'd want to read in YA and then some.
I loved every minute of this book. It's clever and funny and heart wrenching and I admit, I may have a little crush on brand. 

I adored every character and genuinely felt like I wanted to be a part of their lives. The second I finished the last page, I felt like an old friend had left me. 

I miss you already juniper.

A very good and accomplished debut novel. Camilla died in an accident. Juniper her younger sister, cannot let go. She has to know the final secret her sister kept from her. A love letter only addressed to 'you' and Juniper is determined to find out who 'you' is. Along the way, she finds people and places that draw her into the world she didn't know. Through tears and laughter, pain and sorrow, she finally understands what it is to love and to finally let go. Recommended.

Engaging heroine faces her guilt & grief with an offbeat humour that prevents it from becoming mawkish. Clever, funny, poignant & with a very appealing bad boy to boot - it's well worth having.

The premise of this book sounded so interesting. I read the blurb and it captured my attention straight away. I also loved the idea of the happiness index cards and I've even started doing them myself so I can start concentrating on the positives of days instead of the negatives! 

Sixty-five days after the death of her older sister, sixteen-year-old Juniper Lemon discovers the break-up letter addressed to “You” Camilla wrote the day she died. Juni is shocked—she knew nothing of this You, and now the gaping hole in her life that was her sister feels that much bigger. She’s determined to uncover the identity of You and deliver the letter. Maybe that would help fill the hole, even if only a bit.

But what Juniper doesn’t expect is that in searching for You she will unearth other notes and secrets—and that may be just what she needs to sort out her own mess.
I fell in love with each and every character as soon as they were introduced. There's the bad boy next door trope but what I loved, is that Israel turned the trope round on its head and added so much more development to the character. I also loved how Israel conveyed the issue of grief and how Juniper deals with it but also how she embraces it and accepts that the grief is always going to be a part of her. Although some of Junipers actions in certain situations were wrong (and she was called out on it in the end!) I can understand where she was coming from and why she did those certain things. The character of Juniper had such a huge character arc and I was so proud of her at the end of the book; I wanted to cry!

One of the things that I didn't like about this novel was that we never actually find out who You is. I know the reason why the author didn't reveal it (the reason is given at the end of the book) but I just really wanted to know who it was and I finished the book feeling like it was incomplete because of it. However, it only took away a little bit of the reading experience for me.



"Pain... is like the good times: something that comes and goes. There's nothing you can do about that. The important thing... is to live each moment for what it is."

- Julie Israel, Juniper Lemons Happiness Index

 
The plot itself was very intriguing. I was kept on the edge of my seat all of the way through and it was brilliant how little snippets of information about each of the characters was revealed at different intervals of the book. We find out some of the characters secrets and it just made me love them even more!

Overall, I really did enjoy reading this book. Apart from not finding out who You is, this book was very fulfilling and I can't wait to own the finished copy!

Warning: contains triggers for death, depression and abuse. 

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book I was hooked from the very first page and I couldn't put my kindle down while reading this book I was hooked from the very first page and I read this book in one day. this was an entertaining read. I loved the premise of this book I loved the characters. The premise of this book was uniqe and unlike anything else that I have read

Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index is a look into death and how a person deals with the absence that person has left. It deals with how grief can be different from person to person, how it affects a family and how it takes over your whole life. Most importantly, it deals with getting past that grief and being able to move on with life again.

Julie Israel’s writing style is simple and easy to read. There is enough heart-wrenching detail that, in the hardest moments of the plot, you feel it in your chest but it doesn’t overwhelm you. I read through the book quite quickly because everything flowed nicely from one point to the other, and there wasn’t anything that took away from the point of the story.

It's about time YA contemporary feels this fresh. Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index is a smart, funny, well-written story with a beautiful take on loss, grief, and coping mechanisms. The characters in the novel are dealing with the death of Juniper's sister. It ends up being very poignant without feeling depressing or sad. The story is a fairly quick read with a unique structure. There is everything from grief, friendship, family, and love to mystery, drama, and secrets. This could be a very perfect summer read. Highly recommend everyone check this one out!

This book sort of fell flat for me. I had expected an extremely heartbreaking and thought provoking book, but instead I got a cheesy romance with not enough of a focus on loss like I wanted. I wanted more of a family dynamic, but yet the wasn't shown.
    My first problem was the writing. It was dull and repetitive, which disappointed me. It just didn't have the it factor. That mixed with the pacing just didn't grip me. The book was incredibly slow and had large chunks where nothing of significance was happening. That's fine if there is a backstory or something to further develop characters, but even that didn't happen. 
    The characters also were not developed enough either. Juniper didn't have anything to set her apart from YA heroines, which is frustrating, because she has a unique name, and I really expected something great from her.
  Brand on the other hand was very well developed and fun to read. He was sweet, snarky, funny, but a bit of a jerk every once and while. ( Who isn't?) 
     The best part of the book had to be the representation of grief. Even though it didn't play as big of a part as I wanted to, when it was portrayed it was fantastic. The random outbursts, the tears, trying to get closure were all very realistic. Having lost a family member before I can vouch for that. 
   Overall this was not an amazing book, it was a bit average in the contemporary genre. I do think that with more time, the author has the potential to write some great books.