I usually have issues with stories that are described as "realistic". Sometimes they are so down-to-earth that they don't have any sense of sentimentalism at all… so I was kinda worried. But, oh my god, Our Youth was such an experience. It held so many feelings.
It's a slow burn that will leave your heart aching to the mere acknowledgements of their feelings; it's all so subtle yet so revealing. They're loving each other like they're whisper screaming— it shows, it doesn't tell every time. This story is heavy on longing, on wanting, and aching; so if you love these themes, you'll have a RIDE. The colors? The pacing? It's all so intentional just to build up this sense of nostalgia, this "blink and you'll miss it" kind of feeling.
I've just reread this story after a year since I've finished reading it for the first time and gosh, I still felt the lingering sense of bittersweetness and apprehension from the first time, even though I remembered how it was gonna go. This time around I also paid attention to the details and it made the story so beautiful, there's a specific scene that has such a "fever dream" touch to it and it's devastating.
(Oh, one thing I also enjoyed about this story, is that it isn't tactlessly painful; it isn't playing around with your feelings, everything is very much covered to not leave you hanging. So don't be scared haha)
Everything is very clearly purposeful; the author wanted the reader to feel things, don't be shy to it! A must-read, it'll squeeze your heart.
