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All the Bright Places

Jennifer Niven

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What Members Thought

Apr 04, 2015 Liz rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2-star, young-adult, contemporary-and-realistic

This book had some lovely passages but I still can't quite bring myself to give it more than two stars.

I found Finch to be a poorly written character--he wasn't developed as well as I would have liked. He also did some things I didn't care for, specifically, I thought he was sometimes too pushy with Violet in the beginning. It frustrated to me to see all of these unlikable traits that weren't even especially well written.

The story here really wasn't all too unique. It felt so much like The Fault This book had some lovely passages but I still can't quite bring myself to give it more than two stars.

I found Finch to be a poorly written character--he wasn't developed as well as I would have liked. He also did some things I didn't care for, specifically, I thought he was sometimes too pushy with Violet in the beginning. It frustrated to me to see all of these unlikable traits that weren't even especially well written.

The story here really wasn't all too unique. It felt so much like The Fault In Our Stars.

(view spoiler)

I also thought that the storyline with Finch's dad was mishandled. It's heavily hinted at that Finch had bipolar disorder and that his father may have had it as well. We see Finch's father's outbursts, but this isn't explored with any real depth, and kind of leaves the reader going, "So there's a plot point that happened."

In her author's note Niven talks about the stigma surrounding mental illness. She provides resources and talks about a boy she once loved who committed suicide. That sucks, and it makes me feel guilty for providing an honest critique of this book. That said, it seems like more people who struggled with mental illness should have beta read this book, and more editors should have considered the personal reactions teens would have to this book. It just feels like the focus was on the fact that it could be a bestseller because it was so much like The Fault In Our Stars.

There should be books in the young adult genre that talk about mental illness and grief. While I understand the desire to write a good story and that All the Bright Places may have been inspired by some of Niven's personal experiences, I don't feel that this book is the way to handle these subjects. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2014 Emma rated it did not like it

Theodore Finch has been contemplating death and how he might end his own life for years. But whenever he starts to think really hard about killing himself something good, even a small good thing, makes him reconsider. It's hard to stay present and Awake, but once he surfaces Finch is always willing to try.

Violet Markey is counting the days until graduation when she can leave her small Indiana town and the sharp pain of her sister's sudden death behind.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of t ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Apr 19, 2016 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: age-ya, psychological, realistic, 2016

Finch likes to walk the edge - it helps him to feel Alive. He's walking the edge of the bell tower at school when Violet appears. Violet, too, is walking the edge ever since her sister died in a car accident. Who saves who? It's complicated, and slowly they become friends and more as they work on a school project together.

This was shaping up to be a super cute love story until (view spoiler). Honestly, I was loving this book as a romance and watching ...more

1 like · Like · see review