Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon
Synopsis
Madeline has a rare disease that makes her allergic to the world. She's never left her house, where she lives with her mother and spends her days reading. One day, a new boy moves in next door, they begin texting, and soon Madeline is realizing her bubble world doesn't contain everything she wanted.
Review
This book is along the same lines as The Fault In Our Stars, in terms of teens with illness finding love, but it's much more lighthearted.
The main character, Madeline, is smart and cute, especially in her awkwardness of getting to know Olly (the boy next door). Olly starts off a bit as a manic pixie dream boy, but as the book develops we get some more depth to him too and he becomes a well-rounded character.
I thought the romance was cute, even with it being a bit of an insta-romance (she's basically in love with him from when she first sees him). But the whole process of their relationship is really charming and fun to see develop and does get more involved and complex as it goes.
One of the main themes in the book is: what does it mean to live? Is it being alive and enjoying a good life, despite not having the few things you really want? Is it taking huge risks that might end poorly but at least you get a shot at your dreams?
I was torn between some of Madeline's choices along this theme--on the one hand, it is her life and she is ultimately the only one who gets to decide what she does (especially since she's 18 in the book). On the other hand, some of her choices very selfish and a slap in the face for the people who have sacrificed and cared for her her whole life. But that also begs the question, just because someone has done something great for you, does that give them the right to dictate your whole life? Even if it's to protect you?
What I liked most about this book was that there was a ultimately a happy ending! Nevertheless I felt the events around the ending somewhat undermined the whole premise of the book. It also felt a little rushed and was something I wish had been explored much more deeply, as I actually found more interesting than the original premise.
Overall, a fun read with gushy teen romance and lovable characters.
Rating
I give this book 3.5 stars.
Details
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Fiction
Language: Occasional but not strong.
Sex: There is a sex scene, though it is not graphic.
Violence: A character is abusive towards his family.
Synopsis
Madeline has a rare disease that makes her allergic to the world. She's never left her house, where she lives with her mother and spends her days reading. One day, a new boy moves in next door, they begin texting, and soon Madeline is realizing her bubble world doesn't contain everything she wanted.
Review
This book is along the same lines as The Fault In Our Stars, in terms of teens with illness finding love, but it's much more lighthearted.
The main character, Madeline, is smart and cute, especially in her awkwardness of getting to know Olly (the boy next door). Olly starts off a bit as a manic pixie dream boy, but as the book develops we get some more depth to him too and he becomes a well-rounded character.
I thought the romance was cute, even with it being a bit of an insta-romance (she's basically in love with him from when she first sees him). But the whole process of their relationship is really charming and fun to see develop and does get more involved and complex as it goes.
One of the main themes in the book is: what does it mean to live? Is it being alive and enjoying a good life, despite not having the few things you really want? Is it taking huge risks that might end poorly but at least you get a shot at your dreams?
I was torn between some of Madeline's choices along this theme--on the one hand, it is her life and she is ultimately the only one who gets to decide what she does (especially since she's 18 in the book). On the other hand, some of her choices very selfish and a slap in the face for the people who have sacrificed and cared for her her whole life. But that also begs the question, just because someone has done something great for you, does that give them the right to dictate your whole life? Even if it's to protect you?
What I liked most about this book was that there was a ultimately a happy ending! Nevertheless I felt the events around the ending somewhat undermined the whole premise of the book. It also felt a little rushed and was something I wish had been explored much more deeply, as I actually found more interesting than the original premise.
Overall, a fun read with gushy teen romance and lovable characters.
Rating
I give this book 3.5 stars.
Details
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Fiction
Language: Occasional but not strong.
Sex: There is a sex scene, though it is not graphic.
Violence: A character is abusive towards his family.
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