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All the Worlds Between Us #1
All the Worlds Between Us
Seventeen-year-old Quinn Hughes needs to be in top shape if she wants to medal at the swimming World Championships in ten months. This means no easy distractions, no matter how pretty they are.
She’s still piecing her confidence back together after not qualifying for the Olympics, her relationship with her twin brother is getting worse the more he hangs out with the popular kids, and then Kennedy Reed suddenly squeezes herself back into Quinn’s life. The girl who was her best friend. The girl who gave Quinn her first kiss. The girl who hasn’t spoken to her since.
Soon, Quinn finds herself juggling her new girlfriend, training for the biggest competition of her life, and discovering she’s not the only Hughes twin with a crush on Kennedy Reed. All these distractions are getting to her, and if she wants that medal she needs to find a way to stop drowning on dry land.
She’s still piecing her confidence back together after not qualifying for the Olympics, her relationship with her twin brother is getting worse the more he hangs out with the popular kids, and then Kennedy Reed suddenly squeezes herself back into Quinn’s life. The girl who was her best friend. The girl who gave Quinn her first kiss. The girl who hasn’t spoken to her since.
Soon, Quinn finds herself juggling her new girlfriend, training for the biggest competition of her life, and discovering she’s not the only Hughes twin with a crush on Kennedy Reed. All these distractions are getting to her, and if she wants that medal she needs to find a way to stop drowning on dry land.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
34 people are currently reading
2109 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Lee Miller
9 books175 followersMorgan Lee Miller started writing at the age of 5 in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. Since there is absolutely nothing to do there, she entertained herself by writing her first few novels by hand.
She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her two feline children, Milo and Elsa. She has a serious problem with oversharing pictures of her cats on Instagram and promises never to apologize for it.
She currently resides in Washington, D.C. with her two feline children, Milo and Elsa. She has a serious problem with oversharing pictures of her cats on Instagram and promises never to apologize for it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
May 9, 2019
'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for an honest review'
**'Write the thing you as a writer has to write: the story you are on fire for, the one that might break your heart that only you can tell..The simpler you say or write it, the more eloquent it is...'
In 'ALL THE WORLDS BETWEEN US', Ms.M.L.Miller is able to move beyond the (granted,fascinating) swim practices that did occupy much of the storyline, instead focusing simultaneously on furthering the romance,teenage problems,growing up & disagreements and on providing more nuanced characterizations for both the primary and secondary characters. She even showed a remarkable ability to place the athletic experiences in the context of telling the story.
For Quinn trying to redo her past Olympic trials and making it's future swim team -- the success would only add to her college credentials even with some difficulty at times but eventually so satisfying. She's an unassuming out teenager who likes to stay invisible at school and tends only to be focus on her swimming. So having a steady girlfriend was simply not in her heart's desire -- enter Kennedy: beautiful and popular at school,only hang with the popular kids,a star soccer player and was unsure about her sexuality.
The author included additional insights into their own thoughts and growing attraction -- with Quinn finally opening up to Kennedy about her feelings, she found something that she never felt before with anyone else: someone who felt and thinks the same way as her. While Kennedy, having no qualms about returning her obvious affections but only behind closed doors. With this strong attraction that led her to do some heartfelt soul-searching -- comes a choice of admitting to their relationship in the open or hiding behind her snobbish friends. But for Quinn, after finding herself she did realize that even if her life might seem okay on the outside it will only get better having Kennedy in it.
The action was perfectly balanced with a softer more emotional side to the storytelling. Nothing happened too fast and the storyline never dragged on: it was also perfectly paced,readers will get a few happy moments,it's also not all sunshine & rainbows and the writing showed the realism of young love;- you cannot rely on anyone to help you become who you really are.
I really enjoyed and loved the story and I think we all have had our own teenage coming out moments in dealing with our own sexuality and the many questions. In the end I still wanted more of this book.
A highly recommended YA story!
**'Write the thing you as a writer has to write: the story you are on fire for, the one that might break your heart that only you can tell..The simpler you say or write it, the more eloquent it is...'
In 'ALL THE WORLDS BETWEEN US', Ms.M.L.Miller is able to move beyond the (granted,fascinating) swim practices that did occupy much of the storyline, instead focusing simultaneously on furthering the romance,teenage problems,growing up & disagreements and on providing more nuanced characterizations for both the primary and secondary characters. She even showed a remarkable ability to place the athletic experiences in the context of telling the story.
For Quinn trying to redo her past Olympic trials and making it's future swim team -- the success would only add to her college credentials even with some difficulty at times but eventually so satisfying. She's an unassuming out teenager who likes to stay invisible at school and tends only to be focus on her swimming. So having a steady girlfriend was simply not in her heart's desire -- enter Kennedy: beautiful and popular at school,only hang with the popular kids,a star soccer player and was unsure about her sexuality.
The author included additional insights into their own thoughts and growing attraction -- with Quinn finally opening up to Kennedy about her feelings, she found something that she never felt before with anyone else: someone who felt and thinks the same way as her. While Kennedy, having no qualms about returning her obvious affections but only behind closed doors. With this strong attraction that led her to do some heartfelt soul-searching -- comes a choice of admitting to their relationship in the open or hiding behind her snobbish friends. But for Quinn, after finding herself she did realize that even if her life might seem okay on the outside it will only get better having Kennedy in it.
The action was perfectly balanced with a softer more emotional side to the storytelling. Nothing happened too fast and the storyline never dragged on: it was also perfectly paced,readers will get a few happy moments,it's also not all sunshine & rainbows and the writing showed the realism of young love;- you cannot rely on anyone to help you become who you really are.
I really enjoyed and loved the story and I think we all have had our own teenage coming out moments in dealing with our own sexuality and the many questions. In the end I still wanted more of this book.
A highly recommended YA story!
May 8, 2019
3.5 Stars. I thought this was a pretty good YA read. I also think this may be Miller’s first book so I thought it was well written for a debut. I didn’t love all of Miller’s story choices but overall it was a decent read.
I have been reading quite a few YA lesfic books lately. Not sure what’s going on but there seems to be more books coming out than usual. I always mention that I am not the biggest YA fan, but I’m starting to wonder if that is true. I have been enjoying these YA books more than I expected so I think I might have to start changing my tune.
One thing I look forward to in good YA books are ones that make you feel. Books that can make you cry one minute and fill you with good feels the next. That is what I wanted and I was glad to say this book delivered on that. I was really engrossed in this story and the first person POV of Quinn. I felt like I really understood her feelings and she was easy to connect with.
While this is a romance it is an angsty romance. Quinn is out and bullied for it by the popular crowd. Her potential love interest is happy being popular but struggles with the fact she may be bisexual and what would happen to her popular standing. This is a YA romance, but the intimate scenes are a little on the explicit side. Not over the top but the characters are seniors in high school so it is pretty realistic.
I think my biggest issue with this book and where it lost a bit in my rating was the end. I just wasn’t crazy about it. It’s not a bad ending but it left me feeling a bit unfinished. I was hoping the book would skip forward so we could experience more of Quinn’s Olympic dreams. The swimming aspects of this book were interesting and made this stand out from a regular high school YA so I really wanted more. There is also another big storyline that is left unfinished but I don’t want to spoiler anything by mentioning it. Again while it was realistic, it was disappointing. If I knew for sure Miller had planes to write a sequel, that Quinn’s story was not over, I would feel a million times better about the ending.
If you are a YA fan, chances are you might enjoy this. It didn’t completely work for me but it was a pretty good debut book. I’m keeping my fingers crossed we get a book 2.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
I have been reading quite a few YA lesfic books lately. Not sure what’s going on but there seems to be more books coming out than usual. I always mention that I am not the biggest YA fan, but I’m starting to wonder if that is true. I have been enjoying these YA books more than I expected so I think I might have to start changing my tune.
One thing I look forward to in good YA books are ones that make you feel. Books that can make you cry one minute and fill you with good feels the next. That is what I wanted and I was glad to say this book delivered on that. I was really engrossed in this story and the first person POV of Quinn. I felt like I really understood her feelings and she was easy to connect with.
While this is a romance it is an angsty romance. Quinn is out and bullied for it by the popular crowd. Her potential love interest is happy being popular but struggles with the fact she may be bisexual and what would happen to her popular standing. This is a YA romance, but the intimate scenes are a little on the explicit side. Not over the top but the characters are seniors in high school so it is pretty realistic.
I think my biggest issue with this book and where it lost a bit in my rating was the end. I just wasn’t crazy about it. It’s not a bad ending but it left me feeling a bit unfinished. I was hoping the book would skip forward so we could experience more of Quinn’s Olympic dreams. The swimming aspects of this book were interesting and made this stand out from a regular high school YA so I really wanted more. There is also another big storyline that is left unfinished but I don’t want to spoiler anything by mentioning it. Again while it was realistic, it was disappointing. If I knew for sure Miller had planes to write a sequel, that Quinn’s story was not over, I would feel a million times better about the ending.
If you are a YA fan, chances are you might enjoy this. It didn’t completely work for me but it was a pretty good debut book. I’m keeping my fingers crossed we get a book 2.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
June 17, 2019
I’m not a big fan of YA books but I wanted to give this a shot because it’s a debut and I’m always interested in discovering new authors :) for me, the more the merrier !
So i enjoyed the storyline a lot as the topics discussed are very interesting. Makes me thank god every day that I never went through a bullying phase or bullied anyone ! I also liked the sports aspect and thought it added a lot to the overall storyline..
so Quinn I connected with, but Kennedy not so much to be honest! I felt something was just off with this character..
my only issue with the book was the ending. I just needed a little bit more. Just a glimpse of the future maybe ?
I recommend this one but don’t expect fireworks!
So my rating is 3.5 but I rounded it up to 4 as this is a debut novel.
“I was provided an ARC for an honest review.”
So i enjoyed the storyline a lot as the topics discussed are very interesting. Makes me thank god every day that I never went through a bullying phase or bullied anyone ! I also liked the sports aspect and thought it added a lot to the overall storyline..
so Quinn I connected with, but Kennedy not so much to be honest! I felt something was just off with this character..
my only issue with the book was the ending. I just needed a little bit more. Just a glimpse of the future maybe ?
I recommend this one but don’t expect fireworks!
So my rating is 3.5 but I rounded it up to 4 as this is a debut novel.
“I was provided an ARC for an honest review.”
June 11, 2019
I’m so glad I’m not a teenager anymore, when everything is so important, so raw, and more often than not feels like a matter of life and death. This book took me right back to that time, although in my real teenage years I didn’t have to deal with half of what Quinn has to deal with.
At 17, Quinn’s whole life is swimming. She hopes to qualify for the Olympics in Rio after failing to make it to London when she was 15 and is working her ass off to bring a medal or more from the World Championships in Russia. That should be enough to impress anyone but it doesn’t stop the high school mean girl from bullying her and no one seems to be able to stand up to her, least of all Quinn’s twin brother, Liam, who’s one of the cool kids. As if that wasn’t enough, Kennedy, Quinn’s former best friend and the first girl to ever kiss her, suddenly finds her way back into her life, after having ignored her for the better part of high school.
It’s probably the first time I read a second chance romance where the main characters are teenagers. And the way this one goes, Quinn and Kennedy might need a third chance later on.
What I like in YA novels is the rollercoaster of feelings: discovering oneself, not just one’s sexual orientation but who one is or will be, is a complex journey for most people. My favorite YA novels are the ones that make me cry one moment and feel that life is going to be good the next. This one definitely delivered on that front. I’m not a fan of the ending, but that’s on me. I always wish for the ending to be HEA or at least HFN but what I wish for is not always what fits best in a book. So while I was a bit disappointed here, this ending is completely realistic and logical.
I wish the author had gone deeper into the relationship between Quinn and Liam, but I really liked the friendship between Quinn and straight friend Gabriel and everything about Quinn’s swimming. I also like how the book deals with coming out, falling for someone who is not out, the various ways parents react to their kid coming out… I’m writing this a lot these days, but I’m so impressed with a lot of debut novels at the moment, and I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
At 17, Quinn’s whole life is swimming. She hopes to qualify for the Olympics in Rio after failing to make it to London when she was 15 and is working her ass off to bring a medal or more from the World Championships in Russia. That should be enough to impress anyone but it doesn’t stop the high school mean girl from bullying her and no one seems to be able to stand up to her, least of all Quinn’s twin brother, Liam, who’s one of the cool kids. As if that wasn’t enough, Kennedy, Quinn’s former best friend and the first girl to ever kiss her, suddenly finds her way back into her life, after having ignored her for the better part of high school.
It’s probably the first time I read a second chance romance where the main characters are teenagers. And the way this one goes, Quinn and Kennedy might need a third chance later on.
What I like in YA novels is the rollercoaster of feelings: discovering oneself, not just one’s sexual orientation but who one is or will be, is a complex journey for most people. My favorite YA novels are the ones that make me cry one moment and feel that life is going to be good the next. This one definitely delivered on that front. I’m not a fan of the ending, but that’s on me. I always wish for the ending to be HEA or at least HFN but what I wish for is not always what fits best in a book. So while I was a bit disappointed here, this ending is completely realistic and logical.
I wish the author had gone deeper into the relationship between Quinn and Liam, but I really liked the friendship between Quinn and straight friend Gabriel and everything about Quinn’s swimming. I also like how the book deals with coming out, falling for someone who is not out, the various ways parents react to their kid coming out… I’m writing this a lot these days, but I’m so impressed with a lot of debut novels at the moment, and I’m really looking forward to what’s coming next.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2019
"There are so many ways to love, and we need more love in this world. Whatever form that might be."📖 All the Worlds Between Us 📖
🖋 Morgan Lee Miller
Available starting May 14 2019 on Barnes & Noble.
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: LBGTQ+ YA (as per Goodreads but I think should be NA) Romance
📚 POV: First person.
📚 Cliffhanger: No, but written with an open ending.
⚠ Content Warnings: Forced outing. Homophobia. Underage Drinking. Consensual sex (quite descriptive for a YA read).
All the Worlds Between Us is a promising YA debut from Morgan Lee Miller. I have to admit it is one of my first f/f reads, and it is quite enlightening to view a relationship in a young lesbian's eyes. The great thing about this read is the influence of sports, specifically swimming, in the life of the main character and having it a large factor in her decision making throughout her senior year.
Quinn is a high school senior slash amazing world class swimming athlete. She has achieved so much at such a young age and is still facing heavy-bearing (Olympics level) meets in the near future plus landing College athletic scholarship grants. This equate no distractions, no holds barred training in the distant future.
But, life gets in the way. Ex bestfriend Kennedy Reed is squeezing her way back to Quinn's life. Twin brother Liam might also have feelings for Kennedy. Ex girlfriend Riley also might be trying to win Quinn back.
This is such an amazing YA read because of how admirable Quinn is. She is out and proud of it. She knows herself and what she wants. Her parents are the sweetest and backs her up. She has groups of friends, too.
The relationship she has with Kennedy is also eye-opening, as Kennedy is not really out yet. It is a journey of giving support to your partner and being patient as coming out is a different experience for every individual.
All in all, this is a great YA contemporary. Light and fun but also very angsty. Also with a surprisingly steamy descriptive sex scenes for a YA, almost written as New Adult. Best part for me I think is how mature Quinn handled romantic life decisions in the face of all the changes awaiting her.
Much thanks to NetGalley, Broad Strokes Books, Inc. and Morgan Lee Miller for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Love Interest:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Romance:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.72/5 ☁
June 5, 2025
I'm going to come back and leave a proper review, but I need to pick my heart up from the floor before I can do that.
---
Okay, I'm back. It took me a while to fall asleep last night because I was thinking about this book and mending my heart. And that was before I found out there was a sequel (thank you, Morgan Lee Miller, because otherwise I would need you to pay for my therapy), which definitely didn't help in the You should go to bed and stop thinking about these characters, Angie category, so there's that. I have not yet succumbed to purchasing the second book, because I have a day job, and I have a feeling I won't put the book down. I'm actually quite proud of my self control.
This book, guys. It's been a while since I've read a book that gets teenagers as right as this book does. And what I mean by that is there are all a little messed up and super hormonal and sometimes terrible, and I loved them for it because it felt so real. But that means that these characters are going to be a little harder to like.
The novel follows Quinn Hughes as she navigates her senior year of high school while also balancing a swimming career where she's on the cusp of qualifying for the next Olympics. She's one of the few out kids in her high school and has a solid group of friends. But her focus on swimming, and the fact that she's queer, makes her a bit of an outcast since she's making a lot of sacrifices to satisfy her swimming dreams. She has a twin brother who's climbing the social ranks, which has put a strain on their relationship and has been really hard on Quinn. And it doesn't help that he's friends with her biggest tormenter and her childhood BFF (these are two different characters) who hasn't spoken to her for 4 years for reasons Quinn doesn't understand. There's a lot going on for Quinn.
All the Worlds Between Us reminded me a lot of Her Name in the Sky , actually, without all the religious trauma. And that is probably the highest praise I can give a book since Her Name in the Sky was life-changing for me. But that also means that it's angsty. But it's also beautiful. I have so much affection and love for Quinn and Kennedy in equal measure. And I can't wait to hang out with them in sequel.
Shoutout to the character Riley. I hope I get an update on her in the next book because she deserves everything.
I think I'm at a 4.5 stars on this, but I'm rounding up since this is a debut novel and because of the emotional impact. And for the guts it took Miller to write this story the way she did. I bought this book years ago and I'm kicking myself that I only read it now. This is my first book of hers, and I'm definitely reading more, starting with the sequel to this.
---
Okay, I'm back. It took me a while to fall asleep last night because I was thinking about this book and mending my heart. And that was before I found out there was a sequel (thank you, Morgan Lee Miller, because otherwise I would need you to pay for my therapy), which definitely didn't help in the You should go to bed and stop thinking about these characters, Angie category, so there's that. I have not yet succumbed to purchasing the second book, because I have a day job, and I have a feeling I won't put the book down. I'm actually quite proud of my self control.
This book, guys. It's been a while since I've read a book that gets teenagers as right as this book does. And what I mean by that is there are all a little messed up and super hormonal and sometimes terrible, and I loved them for it because it felt so real. But that means that these characters are going to be a little harder to like.
The novel follows Quinn Hughes as she navigates her senior year of high school while also balancing a swimming career where she's on the cusp of qualifying for the next Olympics. She's one of the few out kids in her high school and has a solid group of friends. But her focus on swimming, and the fact that she's queer, makes her a bit of an outcast since she's making a lot of sacrifices to satisfy her swimming dreams. She has a twin brother who's climbing the social ranks, which has put a strain on their relationship and has been really hard on Quinn. And it doesn't help that he's friends with her biggest tormenter and her childhood BFF (these are two different characters) who hasn't spoken to her for 4 years for reasons Quinn doesn't understand. There's a lot going on for Quinn.
All the Worlds Between Us reminded me a lot of Her Name in the Sky , actually, without all the religious trauma. And that is probably the highest praise I can give a book since Her Name in the Sky was life-changing for me. But that also means that it's angsty. But it's also beautiful. I have so much affection and love for Quinn and Kennedy in equal measure. And I can't wait to hang out with them in sequel.
Shoutout to the character Riley. I hope I get an update on her in the next book because she deserves everything.
I think I'm at a 4.5 stars on this, but I'm rounding up since this is a debut novel and because of the emotional impact. And for the guts it took Miller to write this story the way she did. I bought this book years ago and I'm kicking myself that I only read it now. This is my first book of hers, and I'm definitely reading more, starting with the sequel to this.
May 14, 2019
I recived an ARC from Netgalley.
Quinn is set on getting a medal at the swimming World Championship in 10 months. That means no distractions, but then her ex best friend Kennedy starts squeezing herself back into Quinn's life.They haven't spoken since Kennedy moved when they were fourteen and when she came back nothing was the same. Now Quinn has to balance swimming, her feelings for Kennedy and the fact that maybe she's not the only one with these feelings, Quinn's twin brother Liam seems pretty interested Kennedy as well.
Oh wow. I loved this a lot. It was so much more impactful than I thought it would be. I thought this was just gonna be a quick, light book but it was so much more. This is definitely an important book that handles a lot of important topics. Friendship, family, discovering your sexuality, finding yourself, accepting yourself.. It was a beautiful yet heartbreaking story. I hope this book gets the recognition it deserves.
I really enjoyed Morgan Lee Miller's writing, the fact that she more than once mentions Lexa from The 100 made my heart very very happy. I think all characters were very well thought out and I loved them all. This book made me laugh, it made me cry.. at one point I was listening to a song mentioned and just sat there for a good 10 minutes tearing up.
The only thing I had a problem with in this book was how she sometimes treated her friend and ex girlfriend Riley. The way she left to pick up her brother and then just didn't text or call her back or anything was kind of... yeah. Then I also thought Riley was a bit annoying but she made up for it by the end. I also didn't like the way Quinn said multiple times that Kennedy didn't want to come out cause she was embarrased about Quinn. Coming out to everyone you know, friends and family is a very scary thing and I felt that if anyone could understand that it was Quinn.
I rated this book 4/5 stars, it would've been a 5/5 if not for those two things but overall it was amazing for being Morgan Lee Miller's first novel and I can't wait to see what she'll publish in the future, I'm definitely hoping for a sequel to this one.
Quinn is set on getting a medal at the swimming World Championship in 10 months. That means no distractions, but then her ex best friend Kennedy starts squeezing herself back into Quinn's life.They haven't spoken since Kennedy moved when they were fourteen and when she came back nothing was the same. Now Quinn has to balance swimming, her feelings for Kennedy and the fact that maybe she's not the only one with these feelings, Quinn's twin brother Liam seems pretty interested Kennedy as well.
Oh wow. I loved this a lot. It was so much more impactful than I thought it would be. I thought this was just gonna be a quick, light book but it was so much more. This is definitely an important book that handles a lot of important topics. Friendship, family, discovering your sexuality, finding yourself, accepting yourself.. It was a beautiful yet heartbreaking story. I hope this book gets the recognition it deserves.
I really enjoyed Morgan Lee Miller's writing, the fact that she more than once mentions Lexa from The 100 made my heart very very happy. I think all characters were very well thought out and I loved them all. This book made me laugh, it made me cry.. at one point I was listening to a song mentioned and just sat there for a good 10 minutes tearing up.
The only thing I had a problem with in this book was how she sometimes treated her friend and ex girlfriend Riley. The way she left to pick up her brother and then just didn't text or call her back or anything was kind of... yeah. Then I also thought Riley was a bit annoying but she made up for it by the end. I also didn't like the way Quinn said multiple times that Kennedy didn't want to come out cause she was embarrased about Quinn. Coming out to everyone you know, friends and family is a very scary thing and I felt that if anyone could understand that it was Quinn.
I rated this book 4/5 stars, it would've been a 5/5 if not for those two things but overall it was amazing for being Morgan Lee Miller's first novel and I can't wait to see what she'll publish in the future, I'm definitely hoping for a sequel to this one.
June 13, 2019
First love.
Quinn is a senior in high school. But she is not your typical teenager. She has a strict training schedule outside of school because she is swimming athlete going for Olympic qualification.
Kennedy is a popular senior at the same school. She has been ignoring Quinn since she arrived back in town their Sophomore year. She becomes a distraction for Quinn that could jeopardize her Olympic aspirations.
The story had a nice flow that took us through the entire final year of high school. There were plenty of angsty moments to kept me engaged. Kennedy and Quinn had a slew of friends that played parts in this story. Gabriel was my favorite.
The relationship between Quinn and Kennedy was initially surprising as it is rooted with some backstory. This made it feel authentic.
I struggled with the tone of the book overall. I felt like this should be YA as it deals with high school. But there were explicit sex scenes.
All the usual topics addressed: Crushes, Coming Out, Bullying, etc.
The ending was... meh.
I recommend to those who like to read romance, high school stories, angst, and croggling.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review
Quinn is a senior in high school. But she is not your typical teenager. She has a strict training schedule outside of school because she is swimming athlete going for Olympic qualification.
Kennedy is a popular senior at the same school. She has been ignoring Quinn since she arrived back in town their Sophomore year. She becomes a distraction for Quinn that could jeopardize her Olympic aspirations.
The story had a nice flow that took us through the entire final year of high school. There were plenty of angsty moments to kept me engaged. Kennedy and Quinn had a slew of friends that played parts in this story. Gabriel was my favorite.
The relationship between Quinn and Kennedy was initially surprising as it is rooted with some backstory. This made it feel authentic.
I struggled with the tone of the book overall. I felt like this should be YA as it deals with high school. But there were explicit sex scenes.
All the usual topics addressed: Crushes, Coming Out, Bullying, etc.
The ending was... meh.
I recommend to those who like to read romance, high school stories, angst, and croggling.
I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review
May 24, 2019
I wish I read this when I first figured out I was gay!
June 1, 2020
It took me almost a year to finish this and I wasn’t expecting that. If Lex Kent hadn’t posted her review for the sequel and piqued my interest who knows how long it would have taken me to finish this.
It is a good story. Super teen and angsty, but you can’t expect anything less by reading the blurb. They’re immature, selfish, hormonal, all the good characteristics of a real teenager story and I usually devour those, but the twin thing, among other stuff, didn’t agree with me and that made me drag my feet about finishing this.
So, the MCs where best friends, then didn’t. One is out and proud and super self centered, and the other one is a popular, hot, intelligent kind of mean girl. The friendships and the drama are worthy of a Netflix teen movie, throw in that sibling/twin rivalry and the Olympics and it should have been one of my favorite books last year but I couldn’t get in to it. That’s why is a 3.5 but it’s marked as a 4. It really is well written, interesting, closet high school drama high grade teen stuff.
It is a good story. Super teen and angsty, but you can’t expect anything less by reading the blurb. They’re immature, selfish, hormonal, all the good characteristics of a real teenager story and I usually devour those, but the twin thing, among other stuff, didn’t agree with me and that made me drag my feet about finishing this.
So, the MCs where best friends, then didn’t. One is out and proud and super self centered, and the other one is a popular, hot, intelligent kind of mean girl. The friendships and the drama are worthy of a Netflix teen movie, throw in that sibling/twin rivalry and the Olympics and it should have been one of my favorite books last year but I couldn’t get in to it. That’s why is a 3.5 but it’s marked as a 4. It really is well written, interesting, closet high school drama high grade teen stuff.
June 10, 2019
I applied for a copy of this from netgalley..and waited..and waited for approval. I really wanted to read this book so I decided to just buy it. then of course I got approved. Anyway, it was money well spent as I LOved this book. I find it surprising this is authors first work as it seemed very polished. She has another coming out soon and I look forward to getting that as well. This story was ended but it left a opening for more from these characters and I really hope there are some sequels.
August 4, 2021
I received a free copy through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
This book was not exactly what I expected, and I mean that in a good way. From the beginning I thought this would just be another high school romance. And it was that, but it was more than that. There were quite a few things I didn't see coming, so the story wasn't that predictable. As for the ending, I also didn't expect that and I thought it was quite mature for a YA, which definitely is a good thing.
This book was not exactly what I expected, and I mean that in a good way. From the beginning I thought this would just be another high school romance. And it was that, but it was more than that. There were quite a few things I didn't see coming, so the story wasn't that predictable. As for the ending, I also didn't expect that and I thought it was quite mature for a YA, which definitely is a good thing.
June 4, 2020
Quinn Hughes never knew why her best friend Kennedy Reed broke off contact after moving away and refused to acknowledge her after moving back. It had been four years since that goodbye peck on the lips when they were thirteen.
Since then, Quinn had came out, failed to qualify for the Olympics, and did her best to move on from losing her best friend. When she ran into Kennedy in the restroom at a party, they really faced each other for the first time in four years.
But Quinn could not allow herself to be side-tracked when the swimming World Championships were coming up. Plus, Kennedy had acted that she did not exist for the past four years. Could they pick up from where they left off and be best friends again? Or whatever it was that they were both feeling? With Quinn's twin brother Liam also crushing on Kennedy, things were destined to end up in a mess. Right?
I am so glad I decided to read this one instead of skipping it and read its sequel, or I would have missed out big time on a wonderful book.
Unlike most romance, All the Worlds Between Us is not exactly an HEA. So if that is what you are looking for, you might need to read both books in this series in one go. At least, I assume the second book would have a happy ending. Otherwise, it is not for you.
All the Worlds Between Us is written from Quinn's point of view in first-person narrative. I liked how Quinn sort of rambled, inviting us to her flowing thoughts. Perhaps I really enjoy a sincere, first-person narration in YAs. It reminded me of Courtney Peppernell's Keeping Long Island , one of my favorite wlw romance to date.
With most queer YAs having a big coming out storyline, this book was not a complete exception. While coming out scenes were in the picture, I think it had more important events going on, making it more eventful than the average queer YAs. Also, in YA standards, the descriptions of sex were rather graphic but were not lengthy or too detailed.
I admit it was frustrating and painful to watch Quinn and Kennedy figuring themselves out. But I think most queer kids have been there and what our mains were suffering from was extremely relatable. We cannot bring ourselves to blame Quinn when she lost her temper or get angry over Kennedy's hesitation of coming out. I think both teens handled the aftermaths of their many disasters surprisingly maturely. After they calmed down, of course. And their interactions were tender in a way only high schoolers could manage.
For a while, I thought there should have been a prologue telling us what happened between Quinn and Kennedy when they were thirteen. Then when the details surfaced during the current and only timeline, I realized it was so much better to deliver this way. It was like Quinn had deliberately forgotten about Kennedy, only to be forced to remember later on and hence tell us what happened. This conscious choice by Miller made it all the more heartbreaking.
Apart from the angsty high school romance, I need to talk about Quinn's amazing friend group. I love how Riley, Quinn's ex and teammate, had a big part in the story. She seemed like a very sensible and relatable character, too. Maybe we would one day get her own book. Gabriel, Quinn's platonic boyfriend and Liam's best friend, was the most lovely and supportive guy. Meghan, also Quinn's ex, seemed to be quite a character, too. I enjoyed that these secondary characters were believable people, not those that were sort of just there like many other books.
It was a little weird that there were no descriptions of Kennedy playing soccer. Given that she was a goalie, it was surprising that there were no instances where she talked about her games or training. But we do get to hear about Quinn's swim meets.
All the Worlds Between Us is a cute and wistful YA story with some funny narration. If you do not mind the melancholy undertone, I definitely recommend checking out this great story.
Since then, Quinn had came out, failed to qualify for the Olympics, and did her best to move on from losing her best friend. When she ran into Kennedy in the restroom at a party, they really faced each other for the first time in four years.
But Quinn could not allow herself to be side-tracked when the swimming World Championships were coming up. Plus, Kennedy had acted that she did not exist for the past four years. Could they pick up from where they left off and be best friends again? Or whatever it was that they were both feeling? With Quinn's twin brother Liam also crushing on Kennedy, things were destined to end up in a mess. Right?
I am so glad I decided to read this one instead of skipping it and read its sequel, or I would have missed out big time on a wonderful book.
Unlike most romance, All the Worlds Between Us is not exactly an HEA. So if that is what you are looking for, you might need to read both books in this series in one go. At least, I assume the second book would have a happy ending. Otherwise, it is not for you.
All the Worlds Between Us is written from Quinn's point of view in first-person narrative. I liked how Quinn sort of rambled, inviting us to her flowing thoughts. Perhaps I really enjoy a sincere, first-person narration in YAs. It reminded me of Courtney Peppernell's Keeping Long Island , one of my favorite wlw romance to date.
With most queer YAs having a big coming out storyline, this book was not a complete exception. While coming out scenes were in the picture, I think it had more important events going on, making it more eventful than the average queer YAs. Also, in YA standards, the descriptions of sex were rather graphic but were not lengthy or too detailed.
I admit it was frustrating and painful to watch Quinn and Kennedy figuring themselves out. But I think most queer kids have been there and what our mains were suffering from was extremely relatable. We cannot bring ourselves to blame Quinn when she lost her temper or get angry over Kennedy's hesitation of coming out. I think both teens handled the aftermaths of their many disasters surprisingly maturely. After they calmed down, of course. And their interactions were tender in a way only high schoolers could manage.
For a while, I thought there should have been a prologue telling us what happened between Quinn and Kennedy when they were thirteen. Then when the details surfaced during the current and only timeline, I realized it was so much better to deliver this way. It was like Quinn had deliberately forgotten about Kennedy, only to be forced to remember later on and hence tell us what happened. This conscious choice by Miller made it all the more heartbreaking.
Apart from the angsty high school romance, I need to talk about Quinn's amazing friend group. I love how Riley, Quinn's ex and teammate, had a big part in the story. She seemed like a very sensible and relatable character, too. Maybe we would one day get her own book. Gabriel, Quinn's platonic boyfriend and Liam's best friend, was the most lovely and supportive guy. Meghan, also Quinn's ex, seemed to be quite a character, too. I enjoyed that these secondary characters were believable people, not those that were sort of just there like many other books.
It was a little weird that there were no descriptions of Kennedy playing soccer. Given that she was a goalie, it was surprising that there were no instances where she talked about her games or training. But we do get to hear about Quinn's swim meets.
All the Worlds Between Us is a cute and wistful YA story with some funny narration. If you do not mind the melancholy undertone, I definitely recommend checking out this great story.
May 11, 2019
You can find this review and others on my blog SleepySamReads!
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was actually really really cute. The romance was slightly painful to me because it reminded me a little bit of my past, but it was still enjoyable to read.
What I really loved about this is that it will be the perfect read for young queers. I wish there was more books like this when I was in high school. The only books even remotely similar to this focused way too much on the coming out aspect of being queer, as well as the parental rejection. This book will be so so so good for the baby gays. It's so supportive, but also shows the harsh reality of being gay, without the book being about that.
I think the only reason I didn't LOVE this was that it's not super mature. But like, it's about teenagers so it really doesn't have to be. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more as a teen, and I can't judge it too harshly because I am not the target audience.
I loved the main character, Quinn, a lot. I think it's super interesting that she's a serious swimmer. I liked Kennedy and Gabriel a lot too. I didn't love Liam much, but he seemed sincere in the end.
Parts of this were SO cute that I was almost in tears. Like when Quinn and Kennedy go to Swensen's to talk everything out. That was probably my favorite scene.
Overall I think this was a really cute read and I'm so excited that girls first exploring their sexuality will have a book like this!
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was actually really really cute. The romance was slightly painful to me because it reminded me a little bit of my past, but it was still enjoyable to read.
What I really loved about this is that it will be the perfect read for young queers. I wish there was more books like this when I was in high school. The only books even remotely similar to this focused way too much on the coming out aspect of being queer, as well as the parental rejection. This book will be so so so good for the baby gays. It's so supportive, but also shows the harsh reality of being gay, without the book being about that.
I think the only reason I didn't LOVE this was that it's not super mature. But like, it's about teenagers so it really doesn't have to be. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more as a teen, and I can't judge it too harshly because I am not the target audience.
I loved the main character, Quinn, a lot. I think it's super interesting that she's a serious swimmer. I liked Kennedy and Gabriel a lot too. I didn't love Liam much, but he seemed sincere in the end.
Parts of this were SO cute that I was almost in tears. Like when Quinn and Kennedy go to Swensen's to talk everything out. That was probably my favorite scene.
Overall I think this was a really cute read and I'm so excited that girls first exploring their sexuality will have a book like this!
January 30, 2024
3.5 Stars
May 30, 2019
reading this made me realize how much i need more lgbt+ books in my life
January 12, 2021
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed both the books in this series
I really enjoyed both the books in this series
July 18, 2020
This review is spoiler free.
eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
☆☆☆☆
Content warning: underaged drinking, consensual sex between minors, homophobia, forced outing, mentions of conversion therapy
This book follows Quinn, a senior in high school who is also a world class swimmer (what the heck??? I’m so proud of her). She is also out and proud about it, and right after she hooks back up with her ex-girlfriend/swim teammate she finds herself falling for her childhood best friend, Kennedy. This book is really sweet and wholesome and also heartbreaking and uplifting, it’s a lot of things and I am still letting all of those things absorb and I feel like I will be for a good while.
What I Liked
Quinn
Quinn Hughes is the level of put together and confidence that I someday strive to be but will probably never reach. She is a world class athlete? She’s in AP classes? She keeps up a semi-decent social life? She in confident in her sexuality and out? When I was in AP classes all I did was AP classes, I also can’t imagine ever being out and completely confident about it so Quinn is honestly a super star in my mind. I love love love how dedicated she is to swimming and getting to the Olympics one day, I believe in her and am very proud of her.
Quinn’s relationship with her parents
Quinn’s parents aren’t in the book that much (lets be realistic, when are parents uber present in YA books?) but when they were they were super supportive and proud of her and I always appreciate that a lot so I just had to include that in here some how.
The wholesome romance
I spent half of my time reading this snapchatting my friends about the “wholesome gays” because I loved it so much and it made me so happy. I had a smile on my face for the first 30% of this book because Kennedy and Quinn were super cute. They had some issues towards the end of the book that I really want to discuss with someone but can’t because of spoilers but I will say that I really enjoyed how where their relationship was at the end of this book. It was at a shockingly mature place for two recent high school grads and I’m really proud of them.
I feel like I have just said everything and nothing about their relationship? But that’s just how my reviews are to be honest. Just know that I loved it and that for the most part its super sweet and wholesome.
What I Didn’t Like
Girl hate (?)
The (?) should be noted in this heading because I am still not sure that is what I should label this heading. Quinn had an antagonist relationship with a side character that at first seemed to very much just be the cliche girl hate that comes in high school romances but later the character gave Quinn plenty of justifiable reasons to be angry with her. Needless to say I’m conflicted? Like it would have been completely unrealistic for the pair to make up and become friends and I probably would have been upset if they did. Anyways, I’m conflicted, but such is life sometimes I guess.
Some lines of conversation about coming out
Kennedy, the main love interest, isn’t out yet. She is still figuring out what her sexuality and a lot of other things about herself and that is perfectly okay. However, her and Quinn had a fight about Kennedy not wanting to own her sexuality and it opened up some not so good lines of conversation concerning coming out. One of Quinn’s friends called her out on it and she retracted her statements and I did really appreciate it but it is still kind of harmful? Like, as a closeted gay, I know just how scary and hard coming out is and any type of message about how you have to immediately own it is potentially very harmful. Anyways, I more so just put this is as a warning to others just to be aware that this happens.
Overall Thoughts
I really loved this book! Like, way more than I was expecting it to. It was really happy and a great distraction from finals week hell. There were a few things that I wasn’t a big fan of, but I enjoyed the majority of it like a lot. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute contemporary (its especially great for pride month, wink wink, nudge nudge).
eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
☆☆☆☆
Content warning: underaged drinking, consensual sex between minors, homophobia, forced outing, mentions of conversion therapy
This book follows Quinn, a senior in high school who is also a world class swimmer (what the heck??? I’m so proud of her). She is also out and proud about it, and right after she hooks back up with her ex-girlfriend/swim teammate she finds herself falling for her childhood best friend, Kennedy. This book is really sweet and wholesome and also heartbreaking and uplifting, it’s a lot of things and I am still letting all of those things absorb and I feel like I will be for a good while.
What I Liked
Quinn
Quinn Hughes is the level of put together and confidence that I someday strive to be but will probably never reach. She is a world class athlete? She’s in AP classes? She keeps up a semi-decent social life? She in confident in her sexuality and out? When I was in AP classes all I did was AP classes, I also can’t imagine ever being out and completely confident about it so Quinn is honestly a super star in my mind. I love love love how dedicated she is to swimming and getting to the Olympics one day, I believe in her and am very proud of her.
Quinn’s relationship with her parents
Quinn’s parents aren’t in the book that much (lets be realistic, when are parents uber present in YA books?) but when they were they were super supportive and proud of her and I always appreciate that a lot so I just had to include that in here some how.
The wholesome romance
I spent half of my time reading this snapchatting my friends about the “wholesome gays” because I loved it so much and it made me so happy. I had a smile on my face for the first 30% of this book because Kennedy and Quinn were super cute. They had some issues towards the end of the book that I really want to discuss with someone but can’t because of spoilers but I will say that I really enjoyed how where their relationship was at the end of this book. It was at a shockingly mature place for two recent high school grads and I’m really proud of them.
I feel like I have just said everything and nothing about their relationship? But that’s just how my reviews are to be honest. Just know that I loved it and that for the most part its super sweet and wholesome.
What I Didn’t Like
Girl hate (?)
The (?) should be noted in this heading because I am still not sure that is what I should label this heading. Quinn had an antagonist relationship with a side character that at first seemed to very much just be the cliche girl hate that comes in high school romances but later the character gave Quinn plenty of justifiable reasons to be angry with her. Needless to say I’m conflicted? Like it would have been completely unrealistic for the pair to make up and become friends and I probably would have been upset if they did. Anyways, I’m conflicted, but such is life sometimes I guess.
Some lines of conversation about coming out
Kennedy, the main love interest, isn’t out yet. She is still figuring out what her sexuality and a lot of other things about herself and that is perfectly okay. However, her and Quinn had a fight about Kennedy not wanting to own her sexuality and it opened up some not so good lines of conversation concerning coming out. One of Quinn’s friends called her out on it and she retracted her statements and I did really appreciate it but it is still kind of harmful? Like, as a closeted gay, I know just how scary and hard coming out is and any type of message about how you have to immediately own it is potentially very harmful. Anyways, I more so just put this is as a warning to others just to be aware that this happens.
Overall Thoughts
I really loved this book! Like, way more than I was expecting it to. It was really happy and a great distraction from finals week hell. There were a few things that I wasn’t a big fan of, but I enjoyed the majority of it like a lot. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute contemporary (its especially great for pride month, wink wink, nudge nudge).
August 23, 2020
Note: I recieved a free, advanced reading copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Spoilers Ahead
Here I am, finally, reviewing this book almost two months after receiving it… because I suck at prioritization. I received this book as an advanced reading copy, but as you can see from the book info, it’s now been published for over a month. So yea, I suck.
Anyways.
This was kind of a boring read for me. I always get super excited to read f/f books (and I was extra excited since it’s Pride Month!), but this specific book followed a pattern that I’m definitely tired of seeing in f/f stories. I feel like every single book I read about a girl loving a girl ends in them breaking up because they are moving away from each other. I’m obviously exaggerating but… it really does feel that way to me.
The characters in this were not my favorite. Quinn was definitely a bit of a badass and I loved her commitment to swimming. Main characters in LGBTQ+ are often written completely around their sexuality &/or relationship, and I’m always grateful when they are written like normal human beings. However, I didn’t like Quinn much as a whole. Something about her just didn’t sit the best with me. I felt like she had a tendency to be a bit self absorbed at times (especially when it came to her leading on her ex, ditching her friends and teammates, etc).
Kennedy was also very hard for me to like. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with waiting to come out to your friends and family until you’re ready, but that truly does not mean that you get to pretend that your girlfriend doesn’t exist and let your best friend be completely rude to her. To me, this was just a big, red, blinking sign that read, “Kennedy is not a great person”, because girlfriend or not, you should never stand by or excuse bullies.
Since we’re already on the topic, lets talk about that bullying. What the hell was that even about!? Quinn is an amazing swimmer and has gone to the Olympic trials! Yeah, she didn’t make it, but who in their right mind would think that making it to the Olympic trials makes her a failure? The mean girl in this (I can’t even remember her name because this book really hasn’t stuck with me) is always making fun of Quinn for it and no one ever stands up and says, “Hey, if that’s such a failure on her part, I’d love to see you attempt to make it that far”. I know the girl hate was centered heavily around jealously but… come on now. If I knew someone who made it to the Olympic trials, I’d applaud them endlessly.
The relationship between Quinn and Kennedy could be very cute at times, so long as they were alone and literally no one was around them. Their whole ‘we used to be best friends as kids and now we are in love with each other as young adults’ thing was sweet, I’ll admit it. There are some pretty explicit scenes in this, though nothing too bad. Everything was consensual, albeit underage (I think??? Maybe one of them was already 18, I’m not sure actually). Still, proceed with caution if that type of thing is not for you (I personally could’ve done without it in this book).
Looking back over this review, I feel like I talked very little about the plot, but this was really very character driven. The characters kind of make up most of the plot. The background characters were pretty much just that… background characters. I will say that I loved Quinn’s parents and their unconditional support of their daughter, though I would’ve definitely liked to see more of them throughout the novel.
This really wasn’t a bad book. It was just not super memorable. If you’re looking for more f/f reads this Pride Month (and every other month), then pick this up.
Spoilers Ahead
Here I am, finally, reviewing this book almost two months after receiving it… because I suck at prioritization. I received this book as an advanced reading copy, but as you can see from the book info, it’s now been published for over a month. So yea, I suck.
Anyways.
This was kind of a boring read for me. I always get super excited to read f/f books (and I was extra excited since it’s Pride Month!), but this specific book followed a pattern that I’m definitely tired of seeing in f/f stories. I feel like every single book I read about a girl loving a girl ends in them breaking up because they are moving away from each other. I’m obviously exaggerating but… it really does feel that way to me.
The characters in this were not my favorite. Quinn was definitely a bit of a badass and I loved her commitment to swimming. Main characters in LGBTQ+ are often written completely around their sexuality &/or relationship, and I’m always grateful when they are written like normal human beings. However, I didn’t like Quinn much as a whole. Something about her just didn’t sit the best with me. I felt like she had a tendency to be a bit self absorbed at times (especially when it came to her leading on her ex, ditching her friends and teammates, etc).
Kennedy was also very hard for me to like. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with waiting to come out to your friends and family until you’re ready, but that truly does not mean that you get to pretend that your girlfriend doesn’t exist and let your best friend be completely rude to her. To me, this was just a big, red, blinking sign that read, “Kennedy is not a great person”, because girlfriend or not, you should never stand by or excuse bullies.
Since we’re already on the topic, lets talk about that bullying. What the hell was that even about!? Quinn is an amazing swimmer and has gone to the Olympic trials! Yeah, she didn’t make it, but who in their right mind would think that making it to the Olympic trials makes her a failure? The mean girl in this (I can’t even remember her name because this book really hasn’t stuck with me) is always making fun of Quinn for it and no one ever stands up and says, “Hey, if that’s such a failure on her part, I’d love to see you attempt to make it that far”. I know the girl hate was centered heavily around jealously but… come on now. If I knew someone who made it to the Olympic trials, I’d applaud them endlessly.
The relationship between Quinn and Kennedy could be very cute at times, so long as they were alone and literally no one was around them. Their whole ‘we used to be best friends as kids and now we are in love with each other as young adults’ thing was sweet, I’ll admit it. There are some pretty explicit scenes in this, though nothing too bad. Everything was consensual, albeit underage (I think??? Maybe one of them was already 18, I’m not sure actually). Still, proceed with caution if that type of thing is not for you (I personally could’ve done without it in this book).
Looking back over this review, I feel like I talked very little about the plot, but this was really very character driven. The characters kind of make up most of the plot. The background characters were pretty much just that… background characters. I will say that I loved Quinn’s parents and their unconditional support of their daughter, though I would’ve definitely liked to see more of them throughout the novel.
This really wasn’t a bad book. It was just not super memorable. If you’re looking for more f/f reads this Pride Month (and every other month), then pick this up.
May 23, 2019
As a librarian I am always looking out for YA novels LGBT+ characters in them, so I end up reading a lot of teen romance novels, a genre that I was never into, even as a teen. This is one of those novels. It's a perfect YA romance, with teens who get into so much trouble with their messy feelings, a pseudo love triangle, some drugs, and a gifted lead who is often bullied for their gifts.
Quinn Hughes is an out lesbian, an Olympic Level athlete, and an outcast. Her twin brother, Liam, on the other hand, is the proto typical dumb jock, who shot up the school hierarchy by being good looking and pretty good at football. They both like the same girl, the beautiful Kennedy Reed, a girl who has a secret: she thinks she's into girls as much as boys (maybe more) and she's terrified. Quinn's crushing hard on Kennedy, dealing with school bullies and trying to make the US national swim team for the summer Olympics. Can Quinn handle all of the pressure, or will she fall to it?
I found about two or three things about the book that were interesting. One is that Quinn, while being a jock - she's fit, good looking, and is on the swim team - is actually ostracized for being too good and too dedicated to her sport. A ton of the kids that pick on her remind her that she failed to qualify for the US Olympic team when she was younger (15!!) out of shear jealousy. This can also be said of Liam, who is popular mostly because he's good but not too good at his sport. Quinn's sexuality isn't really that big a deal for her bullies, they're too focused on bringing her down a peg based on her athletic ability. And that brings us to Kennedy, we see Kennedy come to terms with her sexuality through Quinn's eyes, and we see and feel Quinn's frustration in regards to that. It hurts Quinn, but also Kennedy is so visibly terrified at times that I did want to smack Quinn over the top of the head for being too callous. Kennedy also made some terrible decisions that were amplified by other events in the book, making the last third of the book pretty devastating.
I personally don't like this type of romance -especially with that bittersweet ending - but it was well written, with very few cookie cutter characters. Quinn is an excellent lead, and Kennedy is a great love interest who is complex enough on her own to give Quinn a run for her money. Recommended for teen romance fans of all ages.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Quinn Hughes is an out lesbian, an Olympic Level athlete, and an outcast. Her twin brother, Liam, on the other hand, is the proto typical dumb jock, who shot up the school hierarchy by being good looking and pretty good at football. They both like the same girl, the beautiful Kennedy Reed, a girl who has a secret: she thinks she's into girls as much as boys (maybe more) and she's terrified. Quinn's crushing hard on Kennedy, dealing with school bullies and trying to make the US national swim team for the summer Olympics. Can Quinn handle all of the pressure, or will she fall to it?
I found about two or three things about the book that were interesting. One is that Quinn, while being a jock - she's fit, good looking, and is on the swim team - is actually ostracized for being too good and too dedicated to her sport. A ton of the kids that pick on her remind her that she failed to qualify for the US Olympic team when she was younger (15!!) out of shear jealousy. This can also be said of Liam, who is popular mostly because he's good but not too good at his sport. Quinn's sexuality isn't really that big a deal for her bullies, they're too focused on bringing her down a peg based on her athletic ability. And that brings us to Kennedy, we see Kennedy come to terms with her sexuality through Quinn's eyes, and we see and feel Quinn's frustration in regards to that. It hurts Quinn, but also Kennedy is so visibly terrified at times that I did want to smack Quinn over the top of the head for being too callous. Kennedy also made some terrible decisions that were amplified by other events in the book, making the last third of the book pretty devastating.
I personally don't like this type of romance -especially with that bittersweet ending - but it was well written, with very few cookie cutter characters. Quinn is an excellent lead, and Kennedy is a great love interest who is complex enough on her own to give Quinn a run for her money. Recommended for teen romance fans of all ages.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2019
Quinn and Kennedy were best friends as kids until Kennedy left just before high school, but not without a first kiss that changed both their lives forever. Now Quinn is just starting her senior year of high school and she's dedicating her sole focus to swimming. But when Kennedy returns, she refuses to talk to Quinn and instead hangs out with the popular group, which likes to pick on Quinn. Quinn doesn't need distractions at a time like this, but when the opportunity to reconnect with the only person she's ever loved comes up, how can she refuse. Even if it means risking everything.
This was a very very cute romance. One of those classically sweet books about reconnecting and falling in love with your best friend you always thought was straight but magically she wasn't. I love reading about first love, because even as you fall in love, you're still finding yourself. Not everything fits into place in a young romance. You're still discovering yourself and seeing if that person reconciles with what you thought you were. It's very realistic and natural and just a beautiful story of
how deep your first love can be. I loved Kennedy a lot. I also liked that Quinn was accomplished and strong, she wasn't played like a gay girl who needed rescuing.
I loved the big role family and the other supporting characters played in the story. Its very realistic, the number of people that fit into your circle when you're young, everyone seams so important.
This was an exceptional first novel by Morgan Lee Miller and I look forward to their fall release.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very very cute romance. One of those classically sweet books about reconnecting and falling in love with your best friend you always thought was straight but magically she wasn't. I love reading about first love, because even as you fall in love, you're still finding yourself. Not everything fits into place in a young romance. You're still discovering yourself and seeing if that person reconciles with what you thought you were. It's very realistic and natural and just a beautiful story of
how deep your first love can be. I loved Kennedy a lot. I also liked that Quinn was accomplished and strong, she wasn't played like a gay girl who needed rescuing.
I loved the big role family and the other supporting characters played in the story. Its very realistic, the number of people that fit into your circle when you're young, everyone seams so important.
This was an exceptional first novel by Morgan Lee Miller and I look forward to their fall release.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2024
ETA skip the audiobook
Olympic swimming hopeful Quinn never expected that her ex best friend Kennedy, who hasn’t talked to Quinn in years, had feelings for her. Kennedy is a closeted as Quinn is out and proud. Add to that Kennedy’s best friend bullies Quinn. Dating while training for Worlds is risky enough. Dating in the closet could ruin years of dreams.
I loved Quinn and all her imperfections. A good kid, yet not above rebellion, strong yet vulnerable and imperfect she felt very real. She made difficult decisions with her head, even when her heart disagreed. I understood Kennedy too. High school is hard. Everybody wants to fit in. Nobody wanna to be fodder for gossip or the target of bullies. Even with other LGBT classmates, coming out is often scary. Even seemingly well-adjusted adults sometimes pretend to be whom they think they “should” be to fit into the world, which is another tribute to Quinn’s bravery.
ALL THE WORLDS BETWEEN US is the first in a duology by Morgan Lee Miller, which makes the ending more satisfying. Part 2, out summer of 2020 will occur five years in the future. I can’t wait to see how Quinn’s Olympic dreams pan out and what’s in store for Quinn and Kennedy.
Olympic swimming hopeful Quinn never expected that her ex best friend Kennedy, who hasn’t talked to Quinn in years, had feelings for her. Kennedy is a closeted as Quinn is out and proud. Add to that Kennedy’s best friend bullies Quinn. Dating while training for Worlds is risky enough. Dating in the closet could ruin years of dreams.
I loved Quinn and all her imperfections. A good kid, yet not above rebellion, strong yet vulnerable and imperfect she felt very real. She made difficult decisions with her head, even when her heart disagreed. I understood Kennedy too. High school is hard. Everybody wants to fit in. Nobody wanna to be fodder for gossip or the target of bullies. Even with other LGBT classmates, coming out is often scary. Even seemingly well-adjusted adults sometimes pretend to be whom they think they “should” be to fit into the world, which is another tribute to Quinn’s bravery.
ALL THE WORLDS BETWEEN US is the first in a duology by Morgan Lee Miller, which makes the ending more satisfying. Part 2, out summer of 2020 will occur five years in the future. I can’t wait to see how Quinn’s Olympic dreams pan out and what’s in store for Quinn and Kennedy.
June 26, 2019
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
All The Worlds Between Us is a young adult lesbian romance (with some quite adult sex scenes and a lot of swearing). Quinn, the narrator-protagonist, is an out lesbian world-class swimmer. Kennedy, her main love interest, used to be her best friend, but the friendship fell apart when they shared a kiss at thirteen. Now they are slowly drifting back together... or are they?
It's an interesting and well written book, and it's always good to read some queer romancing; however, I have some reservations about this novel. The level of angst and pining might be too much at times. There is quite a bit of bullying -- ostensibly not about Quinn's queerness, but with (I think) some undertones of that. There is quite a lot of panic of being outed / out on the part of Kennedy. And if you're looking for a clear happy ending -- unfortunately, you won't find it here.
The part of the book I found most problematic
To sum up, an interesting story with some problems.
All The Worlds Between Us is a young adult lesbian romance (with some quite adult sex scenes and a lot of swearing). Quinn, the narrator-protagonist, is an out lesbian world-class swimmer. Kennedy, her main love interest, used to be her best friend, but the friendship fell apart when they shared a kiss at thirteen. Now they are slowly drifting back together... or are they?
It's an interesting and well written book, and it's always good to read some queer romancing; however, I have some reservations about this novel. The level of angst and pining might be too much at times. There is quite a bit of bullying -- ostensibly not about Quinn's queerness, but with (I think) some undertones of that. There is quite a lot of panic of being outed / out on the part of Kennedy. And if you're looking for a clear happy ending -- unfortunately, you won't find it here.
The part of the book I found most problematic
To sum up, an interesting story with some problems.
May 6, 2019
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This book was amazing, teenage angst just jumped off the page. I loved Quinn immediately and as I was taken on her journey I got more involved in her story and her feelings for Kennedy. I felt as if this was a realistic representation of high school first love and the tremendous up and downs that comes along with that. I laughed and cried as the book continued and still cant decide if I like the ending or not. Overall this is a fantastic read of first love and first heartbreak, and I will be definitely looking out for this author in the future.
May 21, 2019
This is my first YA novel, and admittedly I wasn't sure what to expect. If this is the standard, then teenagers today are so lucky. Written in first person from Quinn's POV, we get access to her dreams of swimming success along with how she handles the near constant bullying from the popular kids for her owning of her queerness. Quinn's parents are fantastic and very supportive. Her brother is her twin, which led me to expect more support from him because of the "twin thing". There were an awful lot of parties and a LOT of underage drinking throughout the book. In New York state is the legal age 18? Or 19? It seemed like the access to alcohol was easier than normal and there were zero bad consequences from all the drinking. Would all the parents just be okay with it?
As this is my first YA, I was surprised at the fairly explicit love scenes, but they were extremely well written and sensitive. I REALLY wouldn't want to be in high school again. There was a lot of angst due to the whole clique thing and the high school end-of-the-world thing, and I thought the ending was pretty realistic. I would be very interested in another installment post-college that has Quinn and Kennedy catching up.
As this is my first YA, I was surprised at the fairly explicit love scenes, but they were extremely well written and sensitive. I REALLY wouldn't want to be in high school again. There was a lot of angst due to the whole clique thing and the high school end-of-the-world thing, and I thought the ending was pretty realistic. I would be very interested in another installment post-college that has Quinn and Kennedy catching up.
May 13, 2019
I didn't realize how much I needed a contemporary read until I started this book. I need to start switching it up more.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Quinn as a main character and that, for once, she wasn't the one in the closet. It's quite refreshing to read from the pov of someone who's out and proud. Overall, a really great read.
Warning, though, there are some very not-YA sex scenes in this book.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved Quinn as a main character and that, for once, she wasn't the one in the closet. It's quite refreshing to read from the pov of someone who's out and proud. Overall, a really great read.
Warning, though, there are some very not-YA sex scenes in this book.
May 19, 2019
5/5 ⭐️
One of my fav LGBT reads of the year. Everything about this book was cute and sad and beautiful and hella relatable. I’m glad it didn’t end the way I thought, it’s a empty ending so you can think of your own.
One of my fav LGBT reads of the year. Everything about this book was cute and sad and beautiful and hella relatable. I’m glad it didn’t end the way I thought, it’s a empty ending so you can think of your own.
June 7, 2019
I am not a big fan of YA stories but I highly recommend this one. It is a very heartwarming, heartbreaking, and realistic tale of two 17 year old girls. One gay and out, the other gay and not out. And how they deal with this and their growing love for each other. The main characters are very likeable, even when you may not agree with them it is easy to understand each others point of view. The dialogue was so natural and moving. It was inspiring to read a story about mature thinking and feeling young adults. I can only hope that the majority of the younger set would be as kind and accepting as the classmates are depicted.
My only complaint is that the book ended but the story was definitely not done. I wanted it to continue.
My only complaint is that the book ended but the story was definitely not done. I wanted it to continue.
February 4, 2021
Cover to cover this is teenage angst and drama but completely immersive. So much so that the emotions spill over way after you’ve completed the book. And no, it doesn’t matter whether you are way past your teens – the emotions that the book evokes are valid across ages.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
September 1, 2019
I actually enjoyed this book way more than I expected. It was honestly well written. I can wait for another book by Ms Miller😀
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