All the Bright Places in Around the Year in 52 Books

May 04, 2017 Lacey Louwagie rated it really liked it

Shelves: youngadult, book-club

This is one of those books that inspires complicated feelings. Is it possible to write a book about teens and suicide that doesn't inspire complicated feelings? I've certainly never read one -- but it's something writers need to keep writing about, and that we need to keep talking about.

My biggest qualm with YA suicide books is that I always fear they run the risk of romanticizing the issue, and that is particularly true when the suicide is contextualized within a romantic relationship as it is This is one of those books that inspires complicated feelings. Is it possible to write a book about teens and suicide that doesn't inspire complicated feelings? I've certainly never read one -- but it's something writers need to keep writing about, and that we need to keep talking about.

My biggest qualm with YA suicide books is that I always fear they run the risk of romanticizing the issue, and that is particularly true when the suicide is contextualized within a romantic relationship as it is here. And so what made me most uncomfortable about this book was that Finch and Violet's suicide attempt in the same place on the same day was essentially reduced to a "meet-cute" (this isn't a spoiler, it's the opening chapter.) And the road-trippy aspects of the story also made the whole thing seem kind of fun and sweet and exciting rather than truly harrowing. The book didn't make me cry, which considering the subject matter seems like a bit of a fail.

At the same time, the things that I can be most critical about in this book can also be interpreted as some of its greatest strengths. Dealing with mental illness does not mean your entire existence is bleak, or that there aren't moments of beauty and adventure and wonder. It doesn't mean that life doesn't continue to unfold around you. I thought that Niven handled Finch's mental illness in a way that was believable and nuanced. I was less impressed by her depiction of Violet. Violet was damaged in her own way, still grieving the loss of her sister, but I kept feeling distracted by the fact that her parents didn't seem to be grieving along with her. In some ways they seemed too "perfect" and "together" for parents who had gone through the tragedy of losing a child, but at the same time it was nice to see some responsible, competent adults in a YA book.

My book club spent a lot of time dissecting how things could have been different if this or that circumstance might have been changed, and although the book loses points for not tugging at my heartstrings the way it maybe should have, it gets those points back again by being the kind of book you keep chewing on for quite a while after the final page has been read. ...more

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Feb 20, 2015 Krissy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, cover-color-blue, pgs-400-499, book2film

:(

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Dec 18, 2016 Barb Novak rated it liked it

Likes: local road trips, alternating narrators, Midwest

Dislikes: predictable, very YA-ish

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Aug 11, 2017 Jen Ifer's Inklings rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, library, popsugar-2017-reading-challenge, read-in-2017, 5-star-reads

When I purchased this book, I knew that it was going to be a sad book. I knew it dealt with tough topics relating to loss and suicide but I had no idea how the story would transpire, or what led Violet and Theodore to the ledge in the bell tower where they met.

I had no idea that this book was going to so totally and thoroughly destroy me. I listened to the audio version of this book, which was probably a good thing because I spent the last 50 or so pages hysterically ugly crying.

I'm not sure w ...more

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Oct 02, 2020 Jaime rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, bookclub, popsugar-2020, read-2020

Two teenagers with depression and suicidal urges meet on the ledge of a bell tower. What could go wrong?

Theodore Finch (goes by Finch) and Violet Markey knew who each other were before this fateful meeting, but they didn't really travel in the same circles. But Finch, who likes to spend a good part of each day imagining how he could die, sees a bit of his struggle in Violet, and decides that he's going to pull her under his wing, so to speak. What follows is the roller coaster of their friendshi ...more

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Nov 04, 2019 laurie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2019

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 12, 2015 Brandi rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen, favorites, romance, family-relationships, realistic-fiction, drama, 2015, alternating-perspectives

I feel like I kind of fell into this book. I wasn't really hooked at the beginning, but eventually I was completely pulled in. One point of interest: the characters travel to a site in my hometown that is literally right down the street from my house. ...more

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Dec 30, 2015 Kate rated it did not like it

This book is stupid. I'm mad I read it. The characters are superficial and the plot is totally contrived. Also, I'm going to say it: THEODORE FINCH IS A GODDAM ASSHOLE. ...more

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