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Everything, Everything
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Debut Goodreads Author (2015), Nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction (2015)My disease is as rare as it is famous. It’s a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in fifteen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives. New next door neighbors. I look out the window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. I want to learn everything about him, and I do. I learn that he is funny and fierce. I learn that his eyes are Atlantic Ocean-blue and that his vice is stealing silverware. I learn that when I talk to him, my whole world opens up, and I feel myself starting to change—starting to want things. To want out of my bubble. To want everything, everything the world has to offer.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives. New next door neighbors. I look out the window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black t-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. I want to learn everything about him, and I do. I learn that he is funny and fierce. I learn that his eyes are Atlantic Ocean-blue and that his vice is stealing silverware. I learn that when I talk to him, my whole world opens up, and I feel myself starting to change—starting to want things. To want out of my bubble. To want everything, everything the world has to offer.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
About the author
Nicola Yoon
15 books18.5k followersNicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star. She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient and a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. Both her novels have been made into major motion pictures. Nicola grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, novelist David Yoon, and their family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49,761 reviews
March 9, 2016
This is a book I expected to LOVE.
It's a book many of my GR friends have loved.
It's a book I was kind of liking until the thing happens...
...the thing that just cheapens the entire story.
I have been dying to read Everything, Everything. The reviews were all positive, it received a Kirkus star, it sounded so different... all these reasons added up to one of my most anticipated reads of the year.
And it started quite beautifully-written with diverse characters, including an Afro-Asian narrator called Madeline. Madeline's condition aside - being allergic to the entire world outside her sterile home - it quickly became evident that the book wasn't as unique as I'd anticipated. It follows in the footsteps of the great doomed love cheesefest of our time - The Fault in Our Stars - and other clones like All the Bright Places.
Unlike the aforementioned two, though, I found myself enjoying this book. It was more cheesy than sweet, in my opinion, but I still enjoyed the emphasis on the human need for more. I thought Madeline was incredibly selfish at times, but this offered complexity to her character and her yearning was palpable:
“For the first time in a long time, I want more than I have.”
“Wanting just leads to more wanting. There’s no end to desire.”
I did get a whiff of instalove. It's like Madeline first sets her eyes on Olly and her whole concept of the world changes. But I did like the build of their relationship after this, through miming at the window, chatting online and sharing poems, jokes and philosophical musings with one another. Even if Olly is a classic manic pixie dream boy who exists only to make Madeline want more.
And then... the thing. The twist that turns a story about an unusual, impossible relationship into JUST ANOTHER YA ROMANCE.
If you don't care about being spoiled:
It wasn't a great book before, but I was enjoying it. The ending, however, ruined the entire thing.
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It's a book many of my GR friends have loved.
It's a book I was kind of liking until the thing happens...
...the thing that just cheapens the entire story.
I have been dying to read Everything, Everything. The reviews were all positive, it received a Kirkus star, it sounded so different... all these reasons added up to one of my most anticipated reads of the year.
And it started quite beautifully-written with diverse characters, including an Afro-Asian narrator called Madeline. Madeline's condition aside - being allergic to the entire world outside her sterile home - it quickly became evident that the book wasn't as unique as I'd anticipated. It follows in the footsteps of the great doomed love cheesefest of our time - The Fault in Our Stars - and other clones like All the Bright Places.
Unlike the aforementioned two, though, I found myself enjoying this book. It was more cheesy than sweet, in my opinion, but I still enjoyed the emphasis on the human need for more. I thought Madeline was incredibly selfish at times, but this offered complexity to her character and her yearning was palpable:
“For the first time in a long time, I want more than I have.”
“Wanting just leads to more wanting. There’s no end to desire.”
I did get a whiff of instalove. It's like Madeline first sets her eyes on Olly and her whole concept of the world changes. But I did like the build of their relationship after this, through miming at the window, chatting online and sharing poems, jokes and philosophical musings with one another. Even if Olly is a classic manic pixie dream boy who exists only to make Madeline want more.
And then... the thing. The twist that turns a story about an unusual, impossible relationship into JUST ANOTHER YA ROMANCE.
If you don't care about being spoiled:
It wasn't a great book before, but I was enjoying it. The ending, however, ruined the entire thing.
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September 15, 2015
This book is about a the most special different unique girl half black-half-Japanese girl in the world who has a super ultra extraordinarily rare disease which nobody can figure out which makes her allergic to everything, therefore she has to stay inside all day, who meets a boy who moves in next door, and it is exactly as boring as it sounds. There is such a thing as trying too hard.
I feel nothing for our doomed character. I don't really care that she could kick the bucket at any moment as she randomly develops an allergy to her clothes, her mom, the furniture. I don't care about her. I don't feel bad for her. She is sheltered, dull, emotionally underdeveloped. I have no fucks to give about whatever silly ass random hopes and wishes and dreams she has (go to Hawaii! Whoo! That's my dream too. Whoop de doo).
There are cute little drawings! Whoo! There are book spoilers (the mouse in Flowers for Algernon died, and that book did make me cry in 5th grade).
The Cute Boy Next Door(tm) sends her emails! They slowly fall in love!
The end. It is that boring. Who gives a fuck?
In all seriousness, I don't really read contemporary books, and I have criterias for them. They're supposed to make me feel for the main character. I want to suffer along with them. I want to fall in love along with them. I want to experience their joy, their pain. In a book in which a character is pretty much doomed from the start, I want to live each breath with them like it was their last.
This book did nothing for me. There's a Bundt cake that "commits suicide" in the book. I felt more emotion for that cake than I did for anyone in this book.
I feel nothing for our doomed character. I don't really care that she could kick the bucket at any moment as she randomly develops an allergy to her clothes, her mom, the furniture. I don't care about her. I don't feel bad for her. She is sheltered, dull, emotionally underdeveloped. I have no fucks to give about whatever silly ass random hopes and wishes and dreams she has (go to Hawaii! Whoo! That's my dream too. Whoop de doo).
There are cute little drawings! Whoo! There are book spoilers (the mouse in Flowers for Algernon died, and that book did make me cry in 5th grade).
The Cute Boy Next Door(tm) sends her emails! They slowly fall in love!
The end. It is that boring. Who gives a fuck?
In all seriousness, I don't really read contemporary books, and I have criterias for them. They're supposed to make me feel for the main character. I want to suffer along with them. I want to fall in love along with them. I want to experience their joy, their pain. In a book in which a character is pretty much doomed from the start, I want to live each breath with them like it was their last.
This book did nothing for me. There's a Bundt cake that "commits suicide" in the book. I felt more emotion for that cake than I did for anyone in this book.
December 14, 2016
this became an instant fave! beautiful writing, extraordinary story, & rich characters. full video review to come!
September 16, 2021
wow that mom crazy as hell
December 16, 2016
4.5/5
I really enjoyed this, especially the last 1/3 of the book! It had a unique premise, a great main character, a nice romance, and a great message. I recommend to all of you looking for a good quick read, whether you are usually a fan of YA romance or not!
I really enjoyed this, especially the last 1/3 of the book! It had a unique premise, a great main character, a nice romance, and a great message. I recommend to all of you looking for a good quick read, whether you are usually a fan of YA romance or not!
December 10, 2020
Generic Teen Book on Steroids.
Cast of Characters:
--Critically Ill Teen with a heart of gold. Yes, she's suffering but more importantly, will she find love?
--Overbearing Mother who keeps unreasonable tight leash on her 18 year old daughter because she loves her baby girl
--Edgy Angsty Hottie with a heart of gold AND emotional baggage. He has abs, he likes math and man-oh-man can he bat those baby blues. Swoon
--Abusive Father - one-dimensional jerk that beats Edgy, Angsty Hottie's family around. Was given a half-hearted backstory (like the other family members)
--Gay Music-Loving Friend, totally accepted by friends, hiding it from family (who I am fairly convinced only shows to check this one off the box) (he literally appears to once, drops some sage advice and is never mentioned again)
Essentially...
Critically Ill Teen has a long-term, incurable immunodeficiency that essentially imprisons her in her own home.
Edgy Angsty Hottie moves next door and does all sorts of edgy and angsty and hottie things.
Crit-Ill-Teen has to decide - will she follow the rules that literally keep her alive? Or will she throw everything away for one PG kiss and over-the-jeans-butt-touch?
(I think you already know her answer).
To channel my (already) long rant, I will limit myself to: the Boy Tastes, the Smex Scenes, the Idiocy of Teenagers and the Cop-Out Ending.
The Boy Tastes - cause minty-fresh breath is sooo last year
Seriously, WHY do all these YA teen boys have tastes?
GURL - why is his tongue in your mouth??
The Smex Scenes - cause nothing says YA like complete incompetence...
Look, I know she's pretty isolated, but she has the internet. She knows how to Google. There are no excuses for moments like this:
And, to top it all off:
The Idiocy of Teenagers - it's totally not like you lived with this disease your entire life...right?
Critically Ill Teen complete disregard for personal safety regarding her disease drove me absolutely mad.
How can you grow up with an incurable, potentially fatal disease and not know/stay within your limits? HOW?
Throughout this book, this girl makes one dumb decision after another - it's like... do you even know you have a disease?
There's barely anything done to keep her safe.
Technically, there's an airlock and a no-touching rule but Edgy, Angsty Hottie still touches so much of the house and the Overbearing Mother (who's a DOCTOR) seems to disregard even the most basic decontamination rules...
I know that the illness is supposed to be second to the romance but to use such a serious illness as a YA plot device? The least you can do is make it realistic.
The Cop-Out Ending - I read this much story...for THIS?
Audiobook Comments
Narrated by Bahni Turpin and Robbie Daymond - they were pretty good! Enjoyable audio quality at least!
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Cast of Characters:
--Critically Ill Teen with a heart of gold. Yes, she's suffering but more importantly, will she find love?
--Overbearing Mother who keeps unreasonable tight leash on her 18 year old daughter because she loves her baby girl
--Edgy Angsty Hottie with a heart of gold AND emotional baggage. He has abs, he likes math and man-oh-man can he bat those baby blues. Swoon
--Abusive Father - one-dimensional jerk that beats Edgy, Angsty Hottie's family around. Was given a half-hearted backstory (like the other family members)
--Gay Music-Loving Friend, totally accepted by friends, hiding it from family (who I am fairly convinced only shows to check this one off the box) (he literally appears to once, drops some sage advice and is never mentioned again)
Essentially...
Critically Ill Teen has a long-term, incurable immunodeficiency that essentially imprisons her in her own home.
Edgy Angsty Hottie moves next door and does all sorts of edgy and angsty and hottie things.
Crit-Ill-Teen has to decide - will she follow the rules that literally keep her alive? Or will she throw everything away for one PG kiss and over-the-jeans-butt-touch?
(I think you already know her answer).
To channel my (already) long rant, I will limit myself to: the Boy Tastes, the Smex Scenes, the Idiocy of Teenagers and the Cop-Out Ending.
The Boy Tastes - cause minty-fresh breath is sooo last year
Seriously, WHY do all these YA teen boys have tastes?
He tastes like salted caramel and sunshineAh yes, he must be one of those guys always chewing on caramels flavored with the sun to get that extra zingy kissing boost.
He tastes like nothing I've ever experienced. Like hope and possibility and the future...more like, he tastes like germs and diseases because you have a compromised immune system.
GURL - why is his tongue in your mouth??
The Smex Scenes - cause nothing says YA like complete incompetence...
Look, I know she's pretty isolated, but she has the internet. She knows how to Google. There are no excuses for moments like this:
I kiss my way across the landscape of him. Down to his toes and back up again.Girl. What. Are. You. Doing.
And, to top it all off:
We are wordless and then we are joined(gracefully fade to black). I am 99% sure it did not go like that. She was probably making another pass at kissing his toes at some point.
The Idiocy of Teenagers - it's totally not like you lived with this disease your entire life...right?
Critically Ill Teen complete disregard for personal safety regarding her disease drove me absolutely mad.
How can you grow up with an incurable, potentially fatal disease and not know/stay within your limits? HOW?
Everything's a risk. Not doing anything's a risk. It's up to youIt's the equivalent of peanut-allergy-kid nibbling on a reese's PB cup every couple of weeks too see what would happen.
Throughout this book, this girl makes one dumb decision after another - it's like... do you even know you have a disease?
There's barely anything done to keep her safe.
Technically, there's an airlock and a no-touching rule but Edgy, Angsty Hottie still touches so much of the house and the Overbearing Mother (who's a DOCTOR) seems to disregard even the most basic decontamination rules...
I know that the illness is supposed to be second to the romance but to use such a serious illness as a YA plot device? The least you can do is make it realistic.
The Cop-Out Ending - I read this much story...for THIS?
Audiobook Comments
Narrated by Bahni Turpin and Robbie Daymond - they were pretty good! Enjoyable audio quality at least!
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
February 13, 2018
3 Stars. Unfortunately, I was a little let down by Everything Everything. I have heard people raving about it since 2015, I've been dying to read it since 2015. I can't exactly tell if it was just overhyped (by others and myself) or if the book just all around was not the best for me.
The overarching positive thing I have to say about this book is that it was entertaining. Although I wasn't 100% satisfied with the story as a whole, I wanted to keep reading. It was addicting and amusing, and it was an enjoyable read. Also, we get a main character who is biracial (African American/Japanese). Biracial characters don't always get their own stories in YA, so I was glad to see some positive representation on this front.
I also really liked Olly and Maddie together. I thought they complimented each other well. Olly was always looking out for Maddie's best interests and was respectful and attentive to her needs. These are the types of love interests we need in YA and I was happy to see them together.
That being said, I was irked by quite a lot of this book. Firstly, I felt there was way too much of a focus on romance being Maddie's drive to "truly live." I was very happy that at certain points, Maddie wanted to go outside for herself, to not feel restricted, and to be free. I may not agree with some of the risks Maddie took with her perceived condition, but if there was a reason for her to take those risks, a sense of taking control of your life and living for *you* is what I was glad to see. Unfortunately, I felt at a lot of time, that individual desire was overshadowed by a desire for love. There are so many points in this book where Maddie relays to Oly that she I felt that there was too much of a focus on the presence of Olly shaping Maddie's decisions, and at times her personal discovery was overshadowed by her love for him. I left this book, not with the message that you should live your life to the fullest, but that Maddie was okay with sacrificing her personal health for love, and that's something I'm vehemently against. Had there been a focus on Maddie accepting she made risky decisions for Olly and that she had a new-found desire to make those decisions for herself only, I would have been more okay with it. But whatever efforts were made to squash the idea that "putting yourself at risk is romantic" were not strong enough for me to condone those actions.
(This section technically constitutes as "spoilers" so I'll hide it, but if you've seen the trailer or know what decisions of Maddie's that I'm talking about, you won't be spoiled.)
Now we get to the issues with representation and research regarding SCID, which I'm not qualified to talk about, but feel it's important to address regardless.
*I am incapable of accurately describing the issues of representation in Everything Everything.
I read a review from Disability in Kidlit which wonderfully expressing why this book is harmful to people with disabilities. It spoils the ending for those of you that have not read it, but I feel it's an extremely well written review and I'd really recommend checking it out: http://disabilityinkidlit.com/2015/09...
I've heard in passing that Nicola Yoon has addressed the issues in Everything Everything, but I'm unable to find any credible sources. If she has, that's great because 90% of authors do not do that.
Overall, I liked Everything Everything. I had fun reading it. I liked the characters. I enjoyed the story. But I had a lot of issues with it, some deeper than I can personally convey. I personally prefer The Sun Is Also A Star and I would definitely read more from her in the future, but I just don't think Everything Everything lived up to my expectations.
The overarching positive thing I have to say about this book is that it was entertaining. Although I wasn't 100% satisfied with the story as a whole, I wanted to keep reading. It was addicting and amusing, and it was an enjoyable read. Also, we get a main character who is biracial (African American/Japanese). Biracial characters don't always get their own stories in YA, so I was glad to see some positive representation on this front.
I also really liked Olly and Maddie together. I thought they complimented each other well. Olly was always looking out for Maddie's best interests and was respectful and attentive to her needs. These are the types of love interests we need in YA and I was happy to see them together.
That being said, I was irked by quite a lot of this book. Firstly, I felt there was way too much of a focus on romance being Maddie's drive to "truly live." I was very happy that at certain points, Maddie wanted to go outside for herself, to not feel restricted, and to be free. I may not agree with some of the risks Maddie took with her perceived condition, but if there was a reason for her to take those risks, a sense of taking control of your life and living for *you* is what I was glad to see. Unfortunately, I felt at a lot of time, that individual desire was overshadowed by a desire for love. There are so many points in this book where Maddie relays to Oly that she I felt that there was too much of a focus on the presence of Olly shaping Maddie's decisions, and at times her personal discovery was overshadowed by her love for him. I left this book, not with the message that you should live your life to the fullest, but that Maddie was okay with sacrificing her personal health for love, and that's something I'm vehemently against. Had there been a focus on Maddie accepting she made risky decisions for Olly and that she had a new-found desire to make those decisions for herself only, I would have been more okay with it. But whatever efforts were made to squash the idea that "putting yourself at risk is romantic" were not strong enough for me to condone those actions.
(This section technically constitutes as "spoilers" so I'll hide it, but if you've seen the trailer or know what decisions of Maddie's that I'm talking about, you won't be spoiled.)
Now we get to the issues with representation and research regarding SCID, which I'm not qualified to talk about, but feel it's important to address regardless.
*I am incapable of accurately describing the issues of representation in Everything Everything.
I read a review from Disability in Kidlit which wonderfully expressing why this book is harmful to people with disabilities. It spoils the ending for those of you that have not read it, but I feel it's an extremely well written review and I'd really recommend checking it out: http://disabilityinkidlit.com/2015/09...
I've heard in passing that Nicola Yoon has addressed the issues in Everything Everything, but I'm unable to find any credible sources. If she has, that's great because 90% of authors do not do that.
Overall, I liked Everything Everything. I had fun reading it. I liked the characters. I enjoyed the story. But I had a lot of issues with it, some deeper than I can personally convey. I personally prefer The Sun Is Also A Star and I would definitely read more from her in the future, but I just don't think Everything Everything lived up to my expectations.
April 11, 2015
4.5 stars Pretty damned close to perfect. And this one is going to make a lot of top 10 lists this year, including mine.
Review to come.
Review to come.
November 28, 2019
confession time: i actually saw the film first before i read this, which i rarely do. but in this case, it didnt bother me at all! bookworm blasphemy, i know! :P
even though i already knew the story beforehand, the book still had plenty to offer. i especially loved the little nuances and details of maddys notes - it made the story so much more tangible and easier to accept, because lets be honest. this story is a little unrealistic at times (i guess thats the beauty of fiction). also, its very insta-lovey, but i thought the interactions between maddy and olly were cute and adorable enough to make up for it.
overall, this kept me entertained and engaged. its short with relaxed writing, so this is the perfect book for someone looking for a quick and unique afternoon read!
↠ 4 stars
even though i already knew the story beforehand, the book still had plenty to offer. i especially loved the little nuances and details of maddys notes - it made the story so much more tangible and easier to accept, because lets be honest. this story is a little unrealistic at times (i guess thats the beauty of fiction). also, its very insta-lovey, but i thought the interactions between maddy and olly were cute and adorable enough to make up for it.
overall, this kept me entertained and engaged. its short with relaxed writing, so this is the perfect book for someone looking for a quick and unique afternoon read!
↠ 4 stars
September 11, 2015
I loved everything, everything about this book. *hugs book closely* review to come.
January 28, 2021
Buddy read with Mini-me!
Ok. So this isn't my kind of book. There is literally nothing about the blurb that would tempt me to read something like this of my own free will. Unless this chick sported some mutant powers, came from another planet, or fought vampires in her spare time? No.
Everything...everything...about this story sounds sappy and gross.
Gonna have to give it a HARD pass.
And let me go ahead and apologize to all the people who feel marginalized or disgusted at the way this book treated such a serious subject as this girl's illness. <--I get it. Not cool.
However.
My Everything is the 12 year old little girl pictured above, and after seeing the trailer to the movie, she asked me to read this with her.
I know what you're thinking:
But Anne, you have 4 kids! How can that one mean everything to you.
I don't know! I love each one of them with all my heart. There's no science that can explain it, but it's true. Each one is the center of my entire world, each one is my favorite, and each of one of them is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Why?
Because I said so.
It's Mom Logic. You don't argue with that shit.
Anyway.
She's always been my reluctant reader, so it wouldn't have mattered what the hell this was about, there was no way I was turning this opportunity down.
So. Here I am, reviewing Everything, Everything.
sigh
Warning: Spoilers
So this is basically a sugary Nicholas Sparks-lite romance for teens. Minus the horrifying endings that come with most of his books...
Which is exactly what I thought it would be, and exactly why my 12 year old loooooooved it. And that's FINE.
I mean, the only thing that I really thought was great about the story was the length. I was able to finish it in a day, which was a HUGE bonus because I'd promised her that I would read the damn thing before we saw the movie in the theater.
Cha-ching! Slid in under the wire, just in time to sit through an hour and a half of teenage kissy face and fade to black sex.
The ending is pretty controversial, but until I'd read some of the reviews, I really didn't understand why. Mainly, because I don't read shit like this. Ever.
But I suppose it should have been marketed as a 'Mama's Fucking Crazy' story instead of a 'Sick Chick Falls In Love' story. Personally, I liked the fact that she wasn't really ill.
And here's why:
I got to lean over to my daughter during the movie and whisper, "See?! THAT'S what a bad mom looks like! I'm not looking so evil for not buying you those (f-ing overpriced!) shoes now, am I?"
Damn straight.
Ok. And this was the COOLEST part of the whole experience. After we left the theater, she turned to me and said the four little words I've been dying to hear her say for years:
The book was better.
Anyway, my kid gave it 5 OMG-IT-WAS-AMAZING! stars.
I'm giving it 3 OMG-MY-DAUGHTER-VOLUNTARILY-READ-A-BOOK! stars.
Ok. So this isn't my kind of book. There is literally nothing about the blurb that would tempt me to read something like this of my own free will. Unless this chick sported some mutant powers, came from another planet, or fought vampires in her spare time? No.
Everything...everything...about this story sounds sappy and gross.
Gonna have to give it a HARD pass.
And let me go ahead and apologize to all the people who feel marginalized or disgusted at the way this book treated such a serious subject as this girl's illness. <--I get it. Not cool.
However.
My Everything is the 12 year old little girl pictured above, and after seeing the trailer to the movie, she asked me to read this with her.
I know what you're thinking:
But Anne, you have 4 kids! How can that one mean everything to you.
I don't know! I love each one of them with all my heart. There's no science that can explain it, but it's true. Each one is the center of my entire world, each one is my favorite, and each of one of them is the best thing that ever happened to me.
Why?
Because I said so.
It's Mom Logic. You don't argue with that shit.
Anyway.
She's always been my reluctant reader, so it wouldn't have mattered what the hell this was about, there was no way I was turning this opportunity down.
So. Here I am, reviewing Everything, Everything.
sigh
Warning: Spoilers
So this is basically a sugary Nicholas Sparks-lite romance for teens. Minus the horrifying endings that come with most of his books...
Which is exactly what I thought it would be, and exactly why my 12 year old loooooooved it. And that's FINE.
I mean, the only thing that I really thought was great about the story was the length. I was able to finish it in a day, which was a HUGE bonus because I'd promised her that I would read the damn thing before we saw the movie in the theater.
Cha-ching! Slid in under the wire, just in time to sit through an hour and a half of teenage kissy face and fade to black sex.
The ending is pretty controversial, but until I'd read some of the reviews, I really didn't understand why. Mainly, because I don't read shit like this. Ever.
But I suppose it should have been marketed as a 'Mama's Fucking Crazy' story instead of a 'Sick Chick Falls In Love' story. Personally, I liked the fact that she wasn't really ill.
And here's why:
I got to lean over to my daughter during the movie and whisper, "See?! THAT'S what a bad mom looks like! I'm not looking so evil for not buying you those (f-ing overpriced!) shoes now, am I?"
Damn straight.
Ok. And this was the COOLEST part of the whole experience. After we left the theater, she turned to me and said the four little words I've been dying to hear her say for years:
The book was better.
Anyway, my kid gave it 5 OMG-IT-WAS-AMAZING! stars.
I'm giving it 3 OMG-MY-DAUGHTER-VOLUNTARILY-READ-A-BOOK! stars.
August 24, 2017
“Everything’s a risk. Not doing anything is a risk. It’s up to you.”
I’ve had about 36 hours to think about “Everything, Everything” and now that I’m actually beginning to write this review I still don’t know how I feel about the book.
It’s a really good and interesting story and to claim that it didn’t captivate me definitely would be a lie. So why do I have those mixed feelings? And why is it still so hard to sort out my feelings and thoughts? I really don’t know, but maybe this review will help me to realise what’s been missing. And there certainly was something missing, I just can’t seem to be able to put my finger on it. XD
Well, I guess we’ll just have to find out, right? ;-)
The plot:
Madeline Whittier has been ill ever since she’s been born. She has a rare disease that’s called SICD and due to this illness she’s unable to leave her house. Just to get in contact with other people and even other things might easily be the death of her, so that poor girl is actually eighteen and has never seen more than the room she’s living in. Well, and the neighbours that just moved in… Of course their handsome and nice son Oliver has immediately attracted Maddy’s attention and if you think that the shit just hit the fan, well, then you’re actually right! *lol*
”I keep picturing myself floating high above the earth. From the edge of space I can see the whole world all at once. My eyes don’t have to stop at a wall or at a door. I can see the beginning and the end of time. I can see infinity from there.
For the first time in a long time. I want more than I have.”
So far, so good! Now that this is settled we can finally move to the character’s section and I bet to write about them will help me to figure everything, literally everything out! (No pun intended, I swear! ;-P)
Warning: From now on there are going to be many spoilers!!! So yeah if you don’t want to be spoiled you better don’t continue!!! XD
The characters:
”Is it always like that?” I ask, breathless.
“No,” he says. “It’s never like that.” I hear the wonder in his voice.
And just like that, everything changes.”
Maddy:
”Ever since Olly came into my life there’ve been two Maddys: the one who lives through books and doesn’t want to die, and the one who lives and suspects that death will be a small price to pay for it.”
I liked the way she saw the world and thought about things. I loved that she was a bookworm and didn’t only want to see the world but also wanted to be an active part of it. I could understand her longing for more and I swear knowing about her complicated life I really, really, really felt sorry for her. Which she most certainly would kill me for, because Maddy is such a strong person and actually hates it to be pitied for being ill. After they came back from Hawaii my heart ached for her and to read about her struggle was so painful that I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to hug her or yell at her instead! I know why she banned Olly from her life and it definitely was the sensible thing to do… but well your head and your heart sometimes want different things and I think this is a life lesson Maddy had to learn the hard way. =(
”I think of Olly, decontamination-cold and waiting for me. He’s the opposite of all these things. He’s not safe. He’s not familiar. He’s in constant motion.
He’s the biggest risk I’ve ever taken.”
Olly: I loved that boy ever since they moved in. Yes, for me it was insta love as well and to all of you who think this is impossible: No it’s not! You can fall for someone and you can fall hard and even though I know that many people claimed it was too fast I still have to disagree. Call it personal experience, but I definitely know what I’m talking about! ;-)
So yeah, back to Olly! I loved his humour and the fact that he could be serious as well. I swear the story about “The Bundt” made me laugh so hard!!!
”The thing about my mom’s Bundts is that they are not very good. Terrible. Actually inedible, very nearly indestructible. Between you and me.”
”I gasp. Did the cake just commit suicide? I crane my neck to see what’s become of it, but it’s too dark out. Just then a spotlight illuminates the cake. Unbelievably, it’s still intact. What is that thing made of?”
*LOL* Just *lol*!!!
That boy certainly was awesome boyfriend material and the more I got to know him the more I wanted him to be with Maddy! I mean seriously there is no better first boyfriend than a guy who’s funny, cheeky, quick-witted, brave, responsible and caring! Those two were just too cute together and I really wanted their ship to sail!!
”In my head I know I’ve been in love before, but it doesn’t feel like it. Being in love with you is better than the first time. It feels like the first time and the last time and the only time all at once.”
Madeline’s mom:
”How could you do this to me? After everything?”
I want to say something, I open my mouth to say it, but nothing comes out.
My guilt is an ocean for me to drown in.
Oh man!!! Don’t even get me started! At the beginning of the book I really liked her relationship with Maddy and I thought that they were a good team, but the more I read, the more I began to dislike her mom! Yes, she wanted to protect her girl but she really could have shown a little more sympathy for her daughter! I mean that poor girl lived her entire life in a bubble and then she falls in love and all her mother does is to fire the only person who was ever really close to her. Looking at it in retrospective the entire incident with Carla definitely made sense and I still can’t believe that I’ve been so blind. Still, what Maddy’s mother did is U.N.F.O.R.G.I.V.A.B.L.E !!! I understand that she seems to have a mental illness, but damn if I’d be Maddy I’d be sooo angry at her!! No, scratch that, I know I wouldn’t be angry, I would be furious!!! How could she? How could she do that to her own daughter??? To her own flesh and blood!!! I can’t!!!! I can’t even put into words how much I loathe her for doing this to poor and innocent Maddy!
”I knew it was more than that. I had to protect you. Anything can happen to you out here.” She looks around. “Anything can happen to you out here. In the world.”
Well and maybe I just found the reason why my feelings for this book seem to be so contradictory. As a mother of a child I know that the love for your little one is unconditional and true. You always try to do what’s best for your child, but in Maddy’s case her mother actually did something completely wrong. Sure, from her POV and in her mind her daughter was ill, but this still doesn’t change anything about the fact that she basically ruined her daughter’s life! With her actions she took away all of Maddy’s choices and in the end she even managed to make her ill.
”And it’s the wanting that pulls me back down to earth hard. The wanting scares me. It’s like a weed that spreads slowly, just beneath your notice. Before you know it, it’s pitted your surfaces and darkened your windows.”
So yes, I think that’s the main reason why the book left a bitter taste in my mouth and resulted in the fact that I don’t know whether I liked it or not. The ending and the repercussions of her mother’s actions made me so angry, but then there was the fact that Maddy and Olly got a second chance at love and this actually made me hopeful and happy again.
Do you see how much I’m struggling with this review? *lol*
All things considered I still think that “Everything, Everything” was a very good book. Sure it had its weaknesses and flaws, but in the end this didn’t change anything about the fact that it was one hell of a page turner. I constantly found myself wanting to know what would happen next and when it comes down to it, this is actually one of the many things that make a good book, a really good book. Right? XD
I’ve had about 36 hours to think about “Everything, Everything” and now that I’m actually beginning to write this review I still don’t know how I feel about the book.
It’s a really good and interesting story and to claim that it didn’t captivate me definitely would be a lie. So why do I have those mixed feelings? And why is it still so hard to sort out my feelings and thoughts? I really don’t know, but maybe this review will help me to realise what’s been missing. And there certainly was something missing, I just can’t seem to be able to put my finger on it. XD
Well, I guess we’ll just have to find out, right? ;-)
The plot:
Madeline Whittier has been ill ever since she’s been born. She has a rare disease that’s called SICD and due to this illness she’s unable to leave her house. Just to get in contact with other people and even other things might easily be the death of her, so that poor girl is actually eighteen and has never seen more than the room she’s living in. Well, and the neighbours that just moved in… Of course their handsome and nice son Oliver has immediately attracted Maddy’s attention and if you think that the shit just hit the fan, well, then you’re actually right! *lol*
”I keep picturing myself floating high above the earth. From the edge of space I can see the whole world all at once. My eyes don’t have to stop at a wall or at a door. I can see the beginning and the end of time. I can see infinity from there.
For the first time in a long time. I want more than I have.”
So far, so good! Now that this is settled we can finally move to the character’s section and I bet to write about them will help me to figure everything, literally everything out! (No pun intended, I swear! ;-P)
Warning: From now on there are going to be many spoilers!!! So yeah if you don’t want to be spoiled you better don’t continue!!! XD
The characters:
”Is it always like that?” I ask, breathless.
“No,” he says. “It’s never like that.” I hear the wonder in his voice.
And just like that, everything changes.”
Maddy:
”Ever since Olly came into my life there’ve been two Maddys: the one who lives through books and doesn’t want to die, and the one who lives and suspects that death will be a small price to pay for it.”
I liked the way she saw the world and thought about things. I loved that she was a bookworm and didn’t only want to see the world but also wanted to be an active part of it. I could understand her longing for more and I swear knowing about her complicated life I really, really, really felt sorry for her. Which she most certainly would kill me for, because Maddy is such a strong person and actually hates it to be pitied for being ill. After they came back from Hawaii my heart ached for her and to read about her struggle was so painful that I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to hug her or yell at her instead! I know why she banned Olly from her life and it definitely was the sensible thing to do… but well your head and your heart sometimes want different things and I think this is a life lesson Maddy had to learn the hard way. =(
”I think of Olly, decontamination-cold and waiting for me. He’s the opposite of all these things. He’s not safe. He’s not familiar. He’s in constant motion.
He’s the biggest risk I’ve ever taken.”
Olly: I loved that boy ever since they moved in. Yes, for me it was insta love as well and to all of you who think this is impossible: No it’s not! You can fall for someone and you can fall hard and even though I know that many people claimed it was too fast I still have to disagree. Call it personal experience, but I definitely know what I’m talking about! ;-)
So yeah, back to Olly! I loved his humour and the fact that he could be serious as well. I swear the story about “The Bundt” made me laugh so hard!!!
”The thing about my mom’s Bundts is that they are not very good. Terrible. Actually inedible, very nearly indestructible. Between you and me.”
”I gasp. Did the cake just commit suicide? I crane my neck to see what’s become of it, but it’s too dark out. Just then a spotlight illuminates the cake. Unbelievably, it’s still intact. What is that thing made of?”
*LOL* Just *lol*!!!
That boy certainly was awesome boyfriend material and the more I got to know him the more I wanted him to be with Maddy! I mean seriously there is no better first boyfriend than a guy who’s funny, cheeky, quick-witted, brave, responsible and caring! Those two were just too cute together and I really wanted their ship to sail!!
”In my head I know I’ve been in love before, but it doesn’t feel like it. Being in love with you is better than the first time. It feels like the first time and the last time and the only time all at once.”
Madeline’s mom:
”How could you do this to me? After everything?”
I want to say something, I open my mouth to say it, but nothing comes out.
My guilt is an ocean for me to drown in.
Oh man!!! Don’t even get me started! At the beginning of the book I really liked her relationship with Maddy and I thought that they were a good team, but the more I read, the more I began to dislike her mom! Yes, she wanted to protect her girl but she really could have shown a little more sympathy for her daughter! I mean that poor girl lived her entire life in a bubble and then she falls in love and all her mother does is to fire the only person who was ever really close to her. Looking at it in retrospective the entire incident with Carla definitely made sense and I still can’t believe that I’ve been so blind. Still, what Maddy’s mother did is U.N.F.O.R.G.I.V.A.B.L.E !!! I understand that she seems to have a mental illness, but damn if I’d be Maddy I’d be sooo angry at her!! No, scratch that, I know I wouldn’t be angry, I would be furious!!! How could she? How could she do that to her own daughter??? To her own flesh and blood!!! I can’t!!!! I can’t even put into words how much I loathe her for doing this to poor and innocent Maddy!
”I knew it was more than that. I had to protect you. Anything can happen to you out here.” She looks around. “Anything can happen to you out here. In the world.”
Well and maybe I just found the reason why my feelings for this book seem to be so contradictory. As a mother of a child I know that the love for your little one is unconditional and true. You always try to do what’s best for your child, but in Maddy’s case her mother actually did something completely wrong. Sure, from her POV and in her mind her daughter was ill, but this still doesn’t change anything about the fact that she basically ruined her daughter’s life! With her actions she took away all of Maddy’s choices and in the end she even managed to make her ill.
”And it’s the wanting that pulls me back down to earth hard. The wanting scares me. It’s like a weed that spreads slowly, just beneath your notice. Before you know it, it’s pitted your surfaces and darkened your windows.”
So yes, I think that’s the main reason why the book left a bitter taste in my mouth and resulted in the fact that I don’t know whether I liked it or not. The ending and the repercussions of her mother’s actions made me so angry, but then there was the fact that Maddy and Olly got a second chance at love and this actually made me hopeful and happy again.
Do you see how much I’m struggling with this review? *lol*
All things considered I still think that “Everything, Everything” was a very good book. Sure it had its weaknesses and flaws, but in the end this didn’t change anything about the fact that it was one hell of a page turner. I constantly found myself wanting to know what would happen next and when it comes down to it, this is actually one of the many things that make a good book, a really good book. Right? XD
February 27, 2017
Alright, alright... four stars. Fine. I did it. We're good. But let's talk about how much I wanted to hate this stupid book. Oh I don't know, maybe because it borrows from like every popular young adult novel ever written. Funny illustrations, one sentence chapters, hipster chapter titles, nods to classic films and books, unique spins on popular board games, boys who wear black, Tumblr book reviews, mushy romance, wild unchaperoned craziness, the internet, super cheesy descriptions of how beautiful someone is, a boy describing himself as sexy, some rare disease that love can overcome, boy and girl falling in love but would never actually in real life so you have to really suspend belief, parents who just don't understand, teenage angst, a bright colorful book cover with giant title font, an author with a cool name, first person narrative...
But why... why am I here 24 hours later having finished the book in two sittings and now somehow rating it four stars? God, I have no idea. I didn't even wanna read it. I put it on hold at the library for some stupid reason and when I went to pick it up they couldn't find it. I told them not to even bother because the book probably sucks anyway, and I'd rather read something much better. They insisted and went to check in the back and then came back after taking forever and handed it over. The bright, happy cover pissed me off and I almost threw it back in the librarian's face and told her to forget it. I'm not reading this garbage.
It sits around the house for a few days. I finish a couple books, and it sits there beckoning to me from afar. I gave in. I read a few pages and then they just keep turning. I'm thinking about how I've seen all that stuff before. Move along. Nothing new to see here. Pages keep turning. The romance is so over the top and obnoxious. I keep reading. It kinda gets outta control. I keep going. The ending. I really enjoyed it. It's not the most original book in the world, but it far exceeded my expectations on a gray Sunday afternoon. Suspend belief and just go with it. That's what I always say.
But why... why am I here 24 hours later having finished the book in two sittings and now somehow rating it four stars? God, I have no idea. I didn't even wanna read it. I put it on hold at the library for some stupid reason and when I went to pick it up they couldn't find it. I told them not to even bother because the book probably sucks anyway, and I'd rather read something much better. They insisted and went to check in the back and then came back after taking forever and handed it over. The bright, happy cover pissed me off and I almost threw it back in the librarian's face and told her to forget it. I'm not reading this garbage.
It sits around the house for a few days. I finish a couple books, and it sits there beckoning to me from afar. I gave in. I read a few pages and then they just keep turning. I'm thinking about how I've seen all that stuff before. Move along. Nothing new to see here. Pages keep turning. The romance is so over the top and obnoxious. I keep reading. It kinda gets outta control. I keep going. The ending. I really enjoyed it. It's not the most original book in the world, but it far exceeded my expectations on a gray Sunday afternoon. Suspend belief and just go with it. That's what I always say.
February 3, 2023
It's difficult to live when everything in the world kills you.
In this moderately short but powerful novel we learn the story of Madeline "Maddy" Whittier, a fragile seventeen year old young lady with SCID, also known as the "bubble boy" disease.
Isolated from the outside world, from everything, and everyone, Madeline lives secluded in a completely sterilized house; with a protective mother and a dedicated nurse that constantly checks her medical condition, since even the slightest alteration, even the most innocuous microbe, has the potential to kill her.
Recluse in a house that she is never allowed to leave, life goes on relatively uneventful, until one day a dysfunctional family moves into the next house. And among them, a young boy named Olly.
This external interference, will slowly change her life, unleashing a new world unknown before within her, and a passion to live, that carries, given her fragile condition, a sure risk of death.
There are books that make you feel, think, and even tear, and this is one that includes a little bit of everything, with even some laughs as well. It left me with countless quotes and moments to remember. A memorable YA, adorable as few others.
**** The movie manages to capture some of the book's spirit, but not really that much. Neither good or bad, just regular. Some important omissions and deviations were noticed. And the atmosphere felt a lot more early teen than young adult. Rue was also there. Interesting to complement the reading. At the very least I'm thankful they didn't butchered the book in the process.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[2015] [312p] [Young Adult] [Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Es difícil vivir cuando todo en el mundo te mata.
En esta moderadamente corta pero poderosa novela conocemos la historia de Madeline "Maddy" Whittier, una frágil jovencita de diecisiete años con SCID, también conocida como la enfermedad del "niño burbuja".
Aislada del exterior, de todo y de todos, Madeline vive recluida en una casa completamente esterilizada; junto a una protectora madre y una dedicada enfermera que constantemente revisan su condición médica, ya que la menor alteración, hasta el más inocuo de los microbios, tiene el potencial de matarla.
Recluida en una casa de la que jamás puede salir, la vida transcurre relativamente sin sobresaltos, hasta que un día una problemática familia se muda a la casa contigua. Y entre ellos, un jovenzuelo llamado Olly.
Esta intromisión del exterior, paulatinamente, irá cambiándole la vida, desatando un nuevo mundo desconocido dentro ella, y una pasión por vivir, que lleva consigo, dada su frágil condición, un seguro riesgo de morir.
Hay libros que te hacen sentir, pensar, y hasta lagrimear, y éste es uno que incluye un poco de todo, inclusive hasta alguna risa también. Me llevo innumerables frases y momentos para el recuerdo. Un YA memorable. Adorable como pocos.
*** La película llega a capturar algo del espíritu del libro, pero hasta ahí. Ni buena ni mala, veíble. Se notaron varias omisiones críticas, y algunas desviaciones importantes. Y el clima parecía mucho más early teen que young adult. Rue también está ahí. Interesante para complementar la lectura. Al menos se agradece que no masacraran la obra original.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[2015] [312p] [Joven Adulto] [Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
In this moderately short but powerful novel we learn the story of Madeline "Maddy" Whittier, a fragile seventeen year old young lady with SCID, also known as the "bubble boy" disease.
Isolated from the outside world, from everything, and everyone, Madeline lives secluded in a completely sterilized house; with a protective mother and a dedicated nurse that constantly checks her medical condition, since even the slightest alteration, even the most innocuous microbe, has the potential to kill her.
Recluse in a house that she is never allowed to leave, life goes on relatively uneventful, until one day a dysfunctional family moves into the next house. And among them, a young boy named Olly.
This external interference, will slowly change her life, unleashing a new world unknown before within her, and a passion to live, that carries, given her fragile condition, a sure risk of death.
There are books that make you feel, think, and even tear, and this is one that includes a little bit of everything, with even some laughs as well. It left me with countless quotes and moments to remember. A memorable YA, adorable as few others.
**** The movie manages to capture some of the book's spirit, but not really that much. Neither good or bad, just regular. Some important omissions and deviations were noticed. And the atmosphere felt a lot more early teen than young adult. Rue was also there. Interesting to complement the reading. At the very least I'm thankful they didn't butchered the book in the process.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[2015] [312p] [Young Adult] [Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Es difícil vivir cuando todo en el mundo te mata.
En esta moderadamente corta pero poderosa novela conocemos la historia de Madeline "Maddy" Whittier, una frágil jovencita de diecisiete años con SCID, también conocida como la enfermedad del "niño burbuja".
Aislada del exterior, de todo y de todos, Madeline vive recluida en una casa completamente esterilizada; junto a una protectora madre y una dedicada enfermera que constantemente revisan su condición médica, ya que la menor alteración, hasta el más inocuo de los microbios, tiene el potencial de matarla.
Recluida en una casa de la que jamás puede salir, la vida transcurre relativamente sin sobresaltos, hasta que un día una problemática familia se muda a la casa contigua. Y entre ellos, un jovenzuelo llamado Olly.
Esta intromisión del exterior, paulatinamente, irá cambiándole la vida, desatando un nuevo mundo desconocido dentro ella, y una pasión por vivir, que lleva consigo, dada su frágil condición, un seguro riesgo de morir.
Hay libros que te hacen sentir, pensar, y hasta lagrimear, y éste es uno que incluye un poco de todo, inclusive hasta alguna risa también. Me llevo innumerables frases y momentos para el recuerdo. Un YA memorable. Adorable como pocos.
*** La película llega a capturar algo del espíritu del libro, pero hasta ahí. Ni buena ni mala, veíble. Se notaron varias omisiones críticas, y algunas desviaciones importantes. Y el clima parecía mucho más early teen que young adult. Rue también está ahí. Interesante para complementar la lectura. Al menos se agradece que no masacraran la obra original.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[2015] [312p] [Joven Adulto] [Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
October 29, 2016
Update: 10/29/16 - $1.99 on kindle. Not sure for how long!
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
Holy freaking hell! How do I write a review for this book without spoilers! I can't give out spoilers! This book must be read!! Oh. My. God. I CAN NOT believe what Maddy goes through. And the ending! I thought I was going to have a panic attack reading what happens!!!!
Madeline Whittier (Maddy) has SCID, basically meaning she is allergic to everything and has been sealed inside of her house since she was four-years-old or she will die. Her mother is a doctor and they have a woman named Carla that watches her when her mom is out. She has to take her vitals every few hours. They stand in an air-lock at the door until they are safely decontaminated. The house has filters, well you name it. This girl is 18 and doesn't know the real world.... until.... Olly moves in next door. He's hot, he's sweet and he is really good with Maddy.
You know that they are going to fall in love and it's so sweet, it's so sweet and so damn sad. I can't take it!!!!!
Hmmmm... what else can I say... shit... let me just say a little about the end but not too much. Maddy decides she wants to get out and see the world. She lies to Olly, gets him to go on a trip and things happen and she almost dies, but if these things didn't happen... if Olly didn't come into her life.... she wouldn't have found out the biggest thing she needed to learn about her life. And it made me cry damn it!!
I love this book. Kudos to the author!
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
Holy freaking hell! How do I write a review for this book without spoilers! I can't give out spoilers! This book must be read!! Oh. My. God. I CAN NOT believe what Maddy goes through. And the ending! I thought I was going to have a panic attack reading what happens!!!!
Madeline Whittier (Maddy) has SCID, basically meaning she is allergic to everything and has been sealed inside of her house since she was four-years-old or she will die. Her mother is a doctor and they have a woman named Carla that watches her when her mom is out. She has to take her vitals every few hours. They stand in an air-lock at the door until they are safely decontaminated. The house has filters, well you name it. This girl is 18 and doesn't know the real world.... until.... Olly moves in next door. He's hot, he's sweet and he is really good with Maddy.
You know that they are going to fall in love and it's so sweet, it's so sweet and so damn sad. I can't take it!!!!!
Hmmmm... what else can I say... shit... let me just say a little about the end but not too much. Maddy decides she wants to get out and see the world. She lies to Olly, gets him to go on a trip and things happen and she almost dies, but if these things didn't happen... if Olly didn't come into her life.... she wouldn't have found out the biggest thing she needed to learn about her life. And it made me cry damn it!!
I love this book. Kudos to the author!
February 14, 2017
4.5*
Video review to come!
Took off a half star because I have very mixed feelings about the last bit
Video review to come!
Took off a half star because I have very mixed feelings about the last bit
October 13, 2016
ME MUERO. ME MUERO. ME MUERO.
LLORO MUCHO.
ES PERFECTO.
(Relectura en verano de 2016)
LLORO MUCHO.
ES PERFECTO.
(Relectura en verano de 2016)
October 22, 2015
This book was overall enjoyable, and the first half I absolutely adored! Amazing writing, realistic characters. I love how Olly was smart, but not wise beyond his years *cough* John Green *cough*. However, the last half of this book just went by too fast, developed instalove, was unrealistic, and predictable. Amazing idea, but the way the book was written (unrealistically) i was able to guess the outcome, which was frustrating because it could have taken such a better twist. But it was cute and interesting and I loved the doodles and extra pictures! Also POC main character!!!!!
September 5, 2022
When the ending doesn't matter...
I, like a lot of you, I'm sure, totally called the ending of this thing before I even opened the book - and, for once, I didn't even care.
I really enjoyed this story and the characters.
And I really love Yoon's writing style.
The mixed media format was really fun and creative and I had a lot of fun with it.
I have read a LOT of books in my life - over 1700 - and, I must say, this is the first time I have ever found myself physically spinning a book in circles like a total jackass to read some of the text.
So that was fun.
Most of all, I just really liked how Yoon posed some good questions - is life without risk really living? - in such a smooth and lighthearted fashion.
Anyway, I know this book has probably been reviewed and booktubed to death, so I'l stop there.
I have been on quite the high fantasy, YA fantasy, and YA fiction kick lately, so of course I already bought the other book this author recently put out.
#NoSelfControl
Prepare to be bombarded with random AF reviews, my friends.
I, like a lot of you, I'm sure, totally called the ending of this thing before I even opened the book - and, for once, I didn't even care.
I really enjoyed this story and the characters.
And I really love Yoon's writing style.
The mixed media format was really fun and creative and I had a lot of fun with it.
I have read a LOT of books in my life - over 1700 - and, I must say, this is the first time I have ever found myself physically spinning a book in circles like a total jackass to read some of the text.
So that was fun.
Most of all, I just really liked how Yoon posed some good questions - is life without risk really living? - in such a smooth and lighthearted fashion.
Anyway, I know this book has probably been reviewed and booktubed to death, so I'l stop there.
I have been on quite the high fantasy, YA fantasy, and YA fiction kick lately, so of course I already bought the other book this author recently put out.
#NoSelfControl
Prepare to be bombarded with random AF reviews, my friends.
December 24, 2021
-Me, when I read this two years back, when world was a better place to live in and I was a good person:- Life-changing. Heartbreaking. Wow , simply wow . Beautiful love story . Heart-wrenching. Life is beautiful . Blah blah blah
Me, when I read this in 2020 , when world sucks , human connection sucks :-What...the damn hell?
Good stuff.
Me, when I read this in 2020 , when world sucks , human connection sucks :-What...the damn hell?
Good stuff.
October 24, 2023
"Maybe we can't predict everything, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly... It's almost certainly going to be a disaster."
Can we first just talk about this cover??? Amazing right?! Stunning. It fits the story so well.
Everything Everything is a novel about a girl named Madeline who is suffering from SCID... or as I knew it "bubble boy syndrome". Madeline has spent the last 18 years trapped inside her house. The only people she comes in contact with are her nurse Carla and her mother. That is until Olly moves in next door. Madeline is a very sweet lead. Also loved how diverse she is. She is a combination of Asian and African American, this set her apart from other YA characters right off the bat and was a huge plus for me. The other thing is her kind heart. I've read characters before who are caring, kind, and sweet but something about how Yoon presents Maddy's traits made it something special. She is a lead that you will easily be able to fall for. She was a lead that I thought I would mainly just sympathize for, but Yoon has this way of just making you more hopeful for her than anything else.
Then we have Olly, the adorable boy next door. He is another character that you will have no trouble liking. I did want a little more out of him, but overall happy with what he gives us. My favorite part of the whole book is with him and his mother bundt cake... So cute I found myself blushing the whole scene. Olly is charming, funny, and I think he seems his age. You might be a little confused about what I just said so I'll sum it up real quick... You know how in other "sick kid books" such as TFIOS a lot of people's issues with Hazel and Gus is that they speak so mature for their age and it's off putting for a few. Some get that it's because they are dealing with a more adult issue of realizing that they are going to die way before their time but some still think they seem a little too mature... So if you didn't like TFIOS for that reason Everything Everything might be more up your alley. Both Olly and Maddy feel, talk, and act more their age. Their relationship can be summed up in one word: Sweet. It's so so sweet. The fact that neither of them is put off by the other's life situations is so endearing. You will be cheering for these two and without a doubt you'll want to see them end up together with a happy ever after.
Everything Everything's plot is pretty steady throughout. But not gonna lie, the plot was actually my "biggest" issue with this novel. The story is predictable. There was never a time when I didn't know what was going to happen next. As soon as Olly was introduced I was like "well... I know exactly where this story is headed". Sure enough I was waiting around for some kind of big surprise twist that I never ended up getting. So why the higher rating? Well because of all of the adorable and perfectly placed extras. Yoon gives off these cute little sidenotes, little letters, poems and more. They're just wonderful and wiped away any "errors" I might have felt the plot had. And even with me saying that the book was predictable I really did enough of the story.
"Spoiler alert: Love is worth everything. Everything."
I am not a contemporary fan... in fact it is my least favorite genre so liking this book was kind of a big deal for me. Everything Everything is the perfect quick sweet summer read.
Can we first just talk about this cover??? Amazing right?! Stunning. It fits the story so well.
Everything Everything is a novel about a girl named Madeline who is suffering from SCID... or as I knew it "bubble boy syndrome". Madeline has spent the last 18 years trapped inside her house. The only people she comes in contact with are her nurse Carla and her mother. That is until Olly moves in next door. Madeline is a very sweet lead. Also loved how diverse she is. She is a combination of Asian and African American, this set her apart from other YA characters right off the bat and was a huge plus for me. The other thing is her kind heart. I've read characters before who are caring, kind, and sweet but something about how Yoon presents Maddy's traits made it something special. She is a lead that you will easily be able to fall for. She was a lead that I thought I would mainly just sympathize for, but Yoon has this way of just making you more hopeful for her than anything else.
Then we have Olly, the adorable boy next door. He is another character that you will have no trouble liking. I did want a little more out of him, but overall happy with what he gives us. My favorite part of the whole book is with him and his mother bundt cake... So cute I found myself blushing the whole scene. Olly is charming, funny, and I think he seems his age. You might be a little confused about what I just said so I'll sum it up real quick... You know how in other "sick kid books" such as TFIOS a lot of people's issues with Hazel and Gus is that they speak so mature for their age and it's off putting for a few. Some get that it's because they are dealing with a more adult issue of realizing that they are going to die way before their time but some still think they seem a little too mature... So if you didn't like TFIOS for that reason Everything Everything might be more up your alley. Both Olly and Maddy feel, talk, and act more their age. Their relationship can be summed up in one word: Sweet. It's so so sweet. The fact that neither of them is put off by the other's life situations is so endearing. You will be cheering for these two and without a doubt you'll want to see them end up together with a happy ever after.
Everything Everything's plot is pretty steady throughout. But not gonna lie, the plot was actually my "biggest" issue with this novel. The story is predictable. There was never a time when I didn't know what was going to happen next. As soon as Olly was introduced I was like "well... I know exactly where this story is headed". Sure enough I was waiting around for some kind of big surprise twist that I never ended up getting. So why the higher rating? Well because of all of the adorable and perfectly placed extras. Yoon gives off these cute little sidenotes, little letters, poems and more. They're just wonderful and wiped away any "errors" I might have felt the plot had. And even with me saying that the book was predictable I really did enough of the story.
"Spoiler alert: Love is worth everything. Everything."
I am not a contemporary fan... in fact it is my least favorite genre so liking this book was kind of a big deal for me. Everything Everything is the perfect quick sweet summer read.
February 22, 2020
DNF.
Spoilers to insue.
Too much insta love. I also hate girls who throw away their entire lives for a guy and only care about him and focus only on him. Her mom has no one else in the world to talk to and she's getting ignored because Madeline has a boy in her life. And really? Running away because you can't see a boy?
And the VERY predictable end: not only is it predictable. Kind of dumb. It's hard for me to believe that she never talked to another doctor besides her mother about her diagnosis.
Edit: Ah yes, they made this terrible novel into a movie! Lets show teenagers that it's okay to disrespect your parents for a boy and fly to fucking Hawaii, that's what we should do definitely since teenagers don't already disrespect their parents for no reason every day.
Spoilers to insue.
Too much insta love. I also hate girls who throw away their entire lives for a guy and only care about him and focus only on him. Her mom has no one else in the world to talk to and she's getting ignored because Madeline has a boy in her life. And really? Running away because you can't see a boy?
And the VERY predictable end: not only is it predictable. Kind of dumb. It's hard for me to believe that she never talked to another doctor besides her mother about her diagnosis.
Edit: Ah yes, they made this terrible novel into a movie! Lets show teenagers that it's okay to disrespect your parents for a boy and fly to fucking Hawaii, that's what we should do definitely since teenagers don't already disrespect their parents for no reason every day.
September 7, 2015
3.5 stars rounded up. Because it was a cute story dammit.
My disease is as rare as it is famous. It's a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but you know it as "bubble baby disease".
Madeline is allergic to the world. Just about anything can make her sick and that would be the end for her.
Her world exists of her doctor mom, her nurse Carla and her books. Her books have to come to her vacuum sealed so that no contaminants can get to her. She has never been inside a used book store, Madeline has never left her house.
It's never really bothered her though. She has books to read and adventures in them to escape too.
"Flowers for Algernon again?" she asks. "Doesn't that book always make you cry?"
"One day it won't," I say. "I want to be sure to be reading it on that day."
Then one day new neighbors move in next door. Madeline looks out the window and sees Olly. That boy next door. He and his family become interesting and she starts watching them.
Olly and Madeline take small steps, they begin IM'ing each other.
Ever since Olly came into my life there've been two Maddy's: the one who lives through books and doesn't want to die, and the one who LIVES and suspects that death will be a small price to pay for it.
So begins the romance with that boy that lives next door but that she can't touch. Or even breathe the same air as.
This little book is not bad. Not bad at all. I loved the writing style and the story was just what I needed right now. Fun, sweet and hopeful.
I did have a few problems with it. The mom and Maddy. Maddy being eighteen and never having an argument with her mom just felt weird. Even for someone as sheltered as she had been.
The ending kinda was blah for me too. I wanted a little bit more but I'll over-look it because I did like the book.
In the beginning there was nothing. And then there was everything.
Chaos theory says that even a small change in initial conditions can lead to wildly unpredictable results. A butterfly flaps her wings now and a hurricane forms in the future.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
My disease is as rare as it is famous. It's a form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, but you know it as "bubble baby disease".
Madeline is allergic to the world. Just about anything can make her sick and that would be the end for her.
Her world exists of her doctor mom, her nurse Carla and her books. Her books have to come to her vacuum sealed so that no contaminants can get to her. She has never been inside a used book store, Madeline has never left her house.
It's never really bothered her though. She has books to read and adventures in them to escape too.
"Flowers for Algernon again?" she asks. "Doesn't that book always make you cry?"
"One day it won't," I say. "I want to be sure to be reading it on that day."
Then one day new neighbors move in next door. Madeline looks out the window and sees Olly. That boy next door. He and his family become interesting and she starts watching them.
Olly and Madeline take small steps, they begin IM'ing each other.
Ever since Olly came into my life there've been two Maddy's: the one who lives through books and doesn't want to die, and the one who LIVES and suspects that death will be a small price to pay for it.
So begins the romance with that boy that lives next door but that she can't touch. Or even breathe the same air as.
This little book is not bad. Not bad at all. I loved the writing style and the story was just what I needed right now. Fun, sweet and hopeful.
I did have a few problems with it. The mom and Maddy. Maddy being eighteen and never having an argument with her mom just felt weird. Even for someone as sheltered as she had been.
The ending kinda was blah for me too. I wanted a little bit more but I'll over-look it because I did like the book.
In the beginning there was nothing. And then there was everything.
Chaos theory says that even a small change in initial conditions can lead to wildly unpredictable results. A butterfly flaps her wings now and a hurricane forms in the future.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
February 15, 2023
This captivating story is like nothing I've ever read.
It seemed liked the quintessential YA book until it unexpectedly morphed into one of the most compelling Not-So-Young-Adult stories---beyond my wildest imagination--and it totally wrung my heart out.
It seemed liked the quintessential YA book until it unexpectedly morphed into one of the most compelling Not-So-Young-Adult stories---beyond my wildest imagination--and it totally wrung my heart out.
June 15, 2017
2.5 stars
Find this review and others at A Thousand Lives of Frankie Lovely blog
I really did not love this book really at all ... oops?
The Story
Madeline Whittier lives in a bubble. No seriously she suffers from SCID, also known as bubble boy syndrome. She has never left her house, her bubble. She has no friends except her mother and nurse. She is alone. Until one day, a black clad, daredevil boy moves in next door.
What I Liked
There were some interesting and enjoyable aspects to this story. I really enjoyed learning about Madeline’s medical condition, SCID, though I think I would have liked a bit more of this? Also I liked Madeline’s accounting of her day to day mundane and the difficulties of things that those of us without such medical complications often don’t even think about.
I also didn’t mind Maddy and Olly’s developing friendship, but it felt like it moved way too fast and without enough development in place.
What I Did Not Like
The romance developed way too fast for my liking and then dove way too deep. It was a sweet budding friendship and attraction one day then it’s full blown infatuation the next. This is a problem. It’s not cute. The author never addresses this in any sort of negative way either which I found to be a bit irresponsible. I don’t actually see this as a lifetime love situation to be honest. Maybe a “I needed this at the time” sort of relationship. Olly is the catalyst for freedom for Maddy, but I do not feel like that means he is the rest of her life. And this girl is going to have some therapy to go through before she’s as stable as this book makes her out to be. I don’t know … I just felt like this “love of my life” thing was a bit much considering the situation and the age. But I'm an old lady so …
I did have some plot issues with this book as well. *MEDIUM SPOILER*
Also I had a bit of issues with the fact that she had no friends at all yet she was decent with the computer and had the internet. Why wasn't she in chatrooms and Facebook or ... Goodreads considering how much she loves to read? I would have been her internet friend. Poor girl. It just seems like a few basic internet searches or a word from her nurse Carla (who has her own teenage daughter) could have given her a bit of solace in her lonely day to day life.
Another issue I had was with the plot twist … *MAJOR SPOILER*
But even after all this, I felt like my major issue with this book had to do with my lack of connection to anyone. I just didn’t care. This book didn’t make me feel anything … and I’m an extremely emotional wreck of a human so this is actually quite rare. This book should have been a remarkable journey of first love and sacrifice and hurt feelings etc., but I just felt meh at best.
In Conclusion
I did not love this book. It is possible I didn't even like this book. There were a lot of plot issues and relationship issues but in the end it comes down to the fact that this book utterly failed at connecting with me emotionally.
Find this review and others at A Thousand Lives of Frankie Lovely blog
I really did not love this book really at all ... oops?
The Story
Madeline Whittier lives in a bubble. No seriously she suffers from SCID, also known as bubble boy syndrome. She has never left her house, her bubble. She has no friends except her mother and nurse. She is alone. Until one day, a black clad, daredevil boy moves in next door.
What I Liked
There were some interesting and enjoyable aspects to this story. I really enjoyed learning about Madeline’s medical condition, SCID, though I think I would have liked a bit more of this? Also I liked Madeline’s accounting of her day to day mundane and the difficulties of things that those of us without such medical complications often don’t even think about.
I also didn’t mind Maddy and Olly’s developing friendship, but it felt like it moved way too fast and without enough development in place.
What I Did Not Like
The romance developed way too fast for my liking and then dove way too deep. It was a sweet budding friendship and attraction one day then it’s full blown infatuation the next. This is a problem. It’s not cute. The author never addresses this in any sort of negative way either which I found to be a bit irresponsible. I don’t actually see this as a lifetime love situation to be honest. Maybe a “I needed this at the time” sort of relationship. Olly is the catalyst for freedom for Maddy, but I do not feel like that means he is the rest of her life. And this girl is going to have some therapy to go through before she’s as stable as this book makes her out to be. I don’t know … I just felt like this “love of my life” thing was a bit much considering the situation and the age. But I'm an old lady so …
I did have some plot issues with this book as well. *MEDIUM SPOILER*
Also I had a bit of issues with the fact that she had no friends at all yet she was decent with the computer and had the internet. Why wasn't she in chatrooms and Facebook or ... Goodreads considering how much she loves to read? I would have been her internet friend. Poor girl. It just seems like a few basic internet searches or a word from her nurse Carla (who has her own teenage daughter) could have given her a bit of solace in her lonely day to day life.
Another issue I had was with the plot twist … *MAJOR SPOILER*
But even after all this, I felt like my major issue with this book had to do with my lack of connection to anyone. I just didn’t care. This book didn’t make me feel anything … and I’m an extremely emotional wreck of a human so this is actually quite rare. This book should have been a remarkable journey of first love and sacrifice and hurt feelings etc., but I just felt meh at best.
In Conclusion
I did not love this book. It is possible I didn't even like this book. There were a lot of plot issues and relationship issues but in the end it comes down to the fact that this book utterly failed at connecting with me emotionally.
December 4, 2017
Literally me trying to write this review:
"this book was......"
*backspace*
"I was so..."
*backspace*
"why was this book so good?...."
*backspace*
*backspace*
....
*tears out hair*
(Now, after giving you a very detailed explanation of the past 30 minutes,here's my actual review!:)
Ok. You've already seen my attempts at writing a review that won't bore you to death. But does this really matter when I'm this shook?? Repeat: I'm SHOOK!
I really have no words, besides the fact that book was probably the most brilliant contemporary novel I've EVER read!!
Maddy is a girl who has a mysterious disease where she is allergic to the world and people and everything in between. Including Olly. But we already know that this isn't going to stop them from talking and falling in love and all that stuff those star-crossed lovers do, right??
OF COURSE WE DO.
So what happens??
SHIT.
The WORLD EXPLODES.
OLLY AND MADDY CAN"T BE TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY'S FLAILING THEIR ARMS AROUND CAUSE THEY"RE ARE CRAZY FANGIRLS/BOYS.
See, you get the point. And what do crazy teenagers like them do??
RUN AWAY. I swear, this is every teenager's life.
They're plan is just:
A. Run Away.
*If plan A fails...then.....*
B. Run Farther Away.
*If that fails....*
C. Run Even Farther to the 'Corner of the World'
And the list just keeps on going!
But besides they're insane, yet brilliant plan, they have fun. Which is probably squished in somewhere between plan B and C. They experience the ocean, the world, the love of one another, and honestly, it's great to read it. :) So if you're a sucker for romance, here ya go!
And with this new found experience, here's when the shit happens! Whoopee.
Maddy gets extremely sick, and unfortunately, shuts Olly out from her world. Now from here, I obviously can't blab on since it would break the rule of no-spoilers, but when you're done with the book, you also realize.....that the author left a lot of stuff out of this story too!!
Like:
What happens now??
Is Maddy going to lie there forever??
What about her sickness?
WHAT"S WITH THIS ENDING THAT HAS LEFT MY GIDDY, YET ANGRY AT THE SAME TIME??!!!
WHAT"S THAT ALL ABOUT??!!
*calms herself*
.....
Great!! Reviews over!!
This book was a brilliant, great read, so please try it!
(and fangirl with me about Olly, and Maddy, and more of Olly........)
*smiles maniacally*
I swear I'm not a creep!! :)
And now........leave me in peace to figure out this story and tear every last strand of hair out from my head.....
"this book was......"
*backspace*
"I was so..."
*backspace*
"why was this book so good?...."
*backspace*
*backspace*
....
*tears out hair*
(Now, after giving you a very detailed explanation of the past 30 minutes,here's my actual review!:)
Ok. You've already seen my attempts at writing a review that won't bore you to death. But does this really matter when I'm this shook?? Repeat: I'm SHOOK!
I really have no words, besides the fact that book was probably the most brilliant contemporary novel I've EVER read!!
Maddy is a girl who has a mysterious disease where she is allergic to the world and people and everything in between. Including Olly. But we already know that this isn't going to stop them from talking and falling in love and all that stuff those star-crossed lovers do, right??
OF COURSE WE DO.
So what happens??
SHIT.
The WORLD EXPLODES.
OLLY AND MADDY CAN"T BE TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY'S FLAILING THEIR ARMS AROUND CAUSE THEY"RE ARE CRAZY FANGIRLS/BOYS.
See, you get the point. And what do crazy teenagers like them do??
RUN AWAY. I swear, this is every teenager's life.
They're plan is just:
A. Run Away.
*If plan A fails...then.....*
B. Run Farther Away.
*If that fails....*
C. Run Even Farther to the 'Corner of the World'
And the list just keeps on going!
But besides they're insane, yet brilliant plan, they have fun. Which is probably squished in somewhere between plan B and C. They experience the ocean, the world, the love of one another, and honestly, it's great to read it. :) So if you're a sucker for romance, here ya go!
And with this new found experience, here's when the shit happens! Whoopee.
Maddy gets extremely sick, and unfortunately, shuts Olly out from her world. Now from here, I obviously can't blab on since it would break the rule of no-spoilers, but when you're done with the book, you also realize.....that the author left a lot of stuff out of this story too!!
Like:
What happens now??
Is Maddy going to lie there forever??
What about her sickness?
WHAT"S WITH THIS ENDING THAT HAS LEFT MY GIDDY, YET ANGRY AT THE SAME TIME??!!!
WHAT"S THAT ALL ABOUT??!!
*calms herself*
.....
Great!! Reviews over!!
This book was a brilliant, great read, so please try it!
(and fangirl with me about Olly, and Maddy, and more of Olly........)
*smiles maniacally*
I swear I'm not a creep!! :)
And now........leave me in peace to figure out this story and tear every last strand of hair out from my head.....
February 20, 2017
Finished in one sitting - couldn't get enough!!!
October 31, 2019
Second Read: August 11, 2017
First Read: November 4, 2015
Wow! I didn’t think I’d like it even more the second time around. Just look at the amount of time I spent copying quotes and excerpts and taking photos of the pages.
“WHO IS AFFECTED BY HAR? (Hysterical Abdominal Rhopalocera)
The disease affects at least one teenaged American girl every 30 seconds” and a particular 31 year old woman in the Philippines everytime she’s reading a sweet romantic read like this book.
“You’re not living if you’re not regretting.”
“Love is worth everything. Everything.”
Time passing techniques
Pre-Kiss Checklist
Kiss Mechanics
Creating the Correct Kissing Atmosphere
Hilarious right?
Now that I already know the plot, I’m more empathetic with the characters and their motives. I no longer felt tricked or misguided by the plot twist and I have become more appreciative of the dialogues and the themes of the story. It’s also only now that I took notice that Ms. Nicola Yoon’s husband, Mr. David Yoon is the illustrator. How adorable is that?
I watched the movie right after I finished the book and I quite liked it too. I think the actors gave justice to their roles. There was enough chemistry between them and I’m thankful they didn’t make the story seem so cheesy with their cute romance. I liked the cinematography for creative effect. Of course there are several alterations but only to minor details like Maddy’s hair is supposed to be really long while Olly’s doesn’t have a lot of hair except in the last part of the book. But you know me, I notice insignificant stuff all the time. Lol.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Original Review
3.5 stars
Brief intermission
Madeline’s question: "Who actually slaps their knee while laughing?"
Aj’s answer: "Uh, fifty percent of the Filipino population, I think?!"
*slaps her knee while laughing*
-end of intermission-^^
Everything, everything about the first eighty percent of this book is adorable in a “this-is-so-cute-I-want-to-pinch and smooch you” way. The story line is something very new because Madeline, a half-Japanese, half -African-American teenage girl is diagnosed with SCID, a special kind of illness that makes the person highly vulnerable to infectious diseases. For this reason, Maddy for the entire 18 years of her existence hasn’t gone anywhere except her super sterilized home.
Living life under such condition is unimaginable but Maddy has made it through because of her loving mom, caring nurse, love for books, passion for writing one-line spoilery reviews and her creativity in general. She seems okay with everything, everything until she meets her charming new neighbor, Olly, a young man full of life and energy. Everything, everything from then on is certainly never going to be the same. (I’m purposely trying to annoy you by saying “everything” twice.^^)
The writing is completely charming and really funny. I enjoyed how the book was written like the most artistic journal complete with diagrams, dictionary (Maddy’s version) and illustrations. Its creativity is very entertaining which makes the reader want to keep turning the pages for more surprises that despite the succeeding paragraph, I’m still giving this a good score.
I was a bit disappointed at the turnout of the plot. Actually, disappointed is downplaying it. I was frustrated that I had to stop reading for an entire day and when I picked it up again, some of the charm and magic of the book got lost on me. Also, that alternate sort of happy ending didn’t sit perfectly well for me. It ended too quickly and I felt like there were still certain important things that needed to be resolved.
Still, the message of the story is very prominent and certainly moving. We may find it worn-out but no matter how we reverse the world, tilt it sideways or turn it upside down, the truth that “love makes the world go round” or in this case, “love makes everything, everything go round” will always be true and more often than not, love doesn’t make us go for the most rational decisions. Love in more ways than one is both ugly and beautiful and yet people still live with and for it. ^^
Do check out Masooma's wonderful, wonderful review. <3
First Read: November 4, 2015
Wow! I didn’t think I’d like it even more the second time around. Just look at the amount of time I spent copying quotes and excerpts and taking photos of the pages.
“WHO IS AFFECTED BY HAR? (Hysterical Abdominal Rhopalocera)
The disease affects at least one teenaged American girl every 30 seconds” and a particular 31 year old woman in the Philippines everytime she’s reading a sweet romantic read like this book.
“You’re not living if you’re not regretting.”
“Love is worth everything. Everything.”
Time passing techniques
Pre-Kiss Checklist
Kiss Mechanics
Creating the Correct Kissing Atmosphere
Hilarious right?
Now that I already know the plot, I’m more empathetic with the characters and their motives. I no longer felt tricked or misguided by the plot twist and I have become more appreciative of the dialogues and the themes of the story. It’s also only now that I took notice that Ms. Nicola Yoon’s husband, Mr. David Yoon is the illustrator. How adorable is that?
I watched the movie right after I finished the book and I quite liked it too. I think the actors gave justice to their roles. There was enough chemistry between them and I’m thankful they didn’t make the story seem so cheesy with their cute romance. I liked the cinematography for creative effect. Of course there are several alterations but only to minor details like Maddy’s hair is supposed to be really long while Olly’s doesn’t have a lot of hair except in the last part of the book. But you know me, I notice insignificant stuff all the time. Lol.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Original Review
3.5 stars
Brief intermission
Madeline’s question: "Who actually slaps their knee while laughing?"
Aj’s answer: "Uh, fifty percent of the Filipino population, I think?!"
*slaps her knee while laughing*
-end of intermission-^^
Everything, everything about the first eighty percent of this book is adorable in a “this-is-so-cute-I-want-to-pinch and smooch you” way. The story line is something very new because Madeline, a half-Japanese, half -African-American teenage girl is diagnosed with SCID, a special kind of illness that makes the person highly vulnerable to infectious diseases. For this reason, Maddy for the entire 18 years of her existence hasn’t gone anywhere except her super sterilized home.
Living life under such condition is unimaginable but Maddy has made it through because of her loving mom, caring nurse, love for books, passion for writing one-line spoilery reviews and her creativity in general. She seems okay with everything, everything until she meets her charming new neighbor, Olly, a young man full of life and energy. Everything, everything from then on is certainly never going to be the same. (I’m purposely trying to annoy you by saying “everything” twice.^^)
The writing is completely charming and really funny. I enjoyed how the book was written like the most artistic journal complete with diagrams, dictionary (Maddy’s version) and illustrations. Its creativity is very entertaining which makes the reader want to keep turning the pages for more surprises that despite the succeeding paragraph, I’m still giving this a good score.
I was a bit disappointed at the turnout of the plot. Actually, disappointed is downplaying it. I was frustrated that I had to stop reading for an entire day and when I picked it up again, some of the charm and magic of the book got lost on me. Also, that alternate sort of happy ending didn’t sit perfectly well for me. It ended too quickly and I felt like there were still certain important things that needed to be resolved.
Still, the message of the story is very prominent and certainly moving. We may find it worn-out but no matter how we reverse the world, tilt it sideways or turn it upside down, the truth that “love makes the world go round” or in this case, “love makes everything, everything go round” will always be true and more often than not, love doesn’t make us go for the most rational decisions. Love in more ways than one is both ugly and beautiful and yet people still live with and for it. ^^
Do check out Masooma's wonderful, wonderful review. <3
March 8, 2016
4 stars!
Everything Everything is one of those books that made me think, feel, and appreciate all the little things in my life I may take for granted every day. It’s book #5 in my YA Challenge of 2016. It had a bit of a slow start for me, but once it picked up I didn’t want to stop reading!
Madeline was diagnosed with a rare disease as a child. SCID. Because of this, she can’t go outside. She can’t touch people. She can’t even be around people unless they’ve been decontaminated first. She seems to be as okay as she can be with this life. Until she ‘meet’s the boy next door, Oliver. Olly and she exchange emails and she finds herself wishing she could have something more.
I adored Madeline and Olly together. I thought they were both great. Their IM interactions and emails always made me smile. I loved that Olly opened her up to a whole new world and he was something she would risk anything for.
I enjoyed this audio book a lot. The narration was good- she had Maddie down pat. What I really loved was how much this book really made me think and feel for these characters. Also, there was a little plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and I liked that very much! If you’re looking for a sweet YA read that will give you the feels- pick this one up!
In the beginning there was nothing. And then there was everything.
Everything Everything is one of those books that made me think, feel, and appreciate all the little things in my life I may take for granted every day. It’s book #5 in my YA Challenge of 2016. It had a bit of a slow start for me, but once it picked up I didn’t want to stop reading!
Madeline was diagnosed with a rare disease as a child. SCID. Because of this, she can’t go outside. She can’t touch people. She can’t even be around people unless they’ve been decontaminated first. She seems to be as okay as she can be with this life. Until she ‘meet’s the boy next door, Oliver. Olly and she exchange emails and she finds herself wishing she could have something more.
“For the first time in a long time, I want more than I have.”
I adored Madeline and Olly together. I thought they were both great. Their IM interactions and emails always made me smile. I loved that Olly opened her up to a whole new world and he was something she would risk anything for.
I was happy before I met him. But I’m alive now, and those are not the same thing.
I enjoyed this audio book a lot. The narration was good- she had Maddie down pat. What I really loved was how much this book really made me think and feel for these characters. Also, there was a little plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming and I liked that very much! If you’re looking for a sweet YA read that will give you the feels- pick this one up!
Love is worth everything. Everything.
April 17, 2017
Reread: just as beautiful and addictive as the first time. Can't wait to see the movie!
This book was wonderful. I had heard quite a lot of hype, and a lot of great reviews about it, and I went into it with caution. I'm happy to say the hype is well deserved! The story was interesting from the first page, but it was probably around page 50 or so when something happened (I'll just say it was very swoon-worthy), when I became completely sucked in. I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every second. It reminded me of what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. I fell in love with the story, as well as the characters. Maddy and Olly are definitely my new OTP. Highly recommend this one guys!
This book was wonderful. I had heard quite a lot of hype, and a lot of great reviews about it, and I went into it with caution. I'm happy to say the hype is well deserved! The story was interesting from the first page, but it was probably around page 50 or so when something happened (I'll just say it was very swoon-worthy), when I became completely sucked in. I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every second. It reminded me of what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. I fell in love with the story, as well as the characters. Maddy and Olly are definitely my new OTP. Highly recommend this one guys!
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