From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

All the Bright Places

Jennifer Niven

Start date: February 12, 2016

Finish date: February 28, 2016

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What Members Thought

Jan 07, 2015 Andreea rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. [UPDATE] Review from my blog http://catsfika.blogspot.ro/2015/02/a...
This year I decided to read more newer books and maybe try to write more book reviews. Since I finished this book - beginning of February, one lonely morning, just me, my cat and lots of tears - I just couldn't stop thinking about it. I know I'm a bad reviewer and that it's hard to talk about this book without spoilers. But I will try.

All the Bright Places was compared a lot to Rowell's Eleanor and Park and John Green's The Fa [UPDATE] Review from my blog http://catsfika.blogspot.ro/2015/02/a...
This year I decided to read more newer books and maybe try to write more book reviews. Since I finished this book - beginning of February, one lonely morning, just me, my cat and lots of tears - I just couldn't stop thinking about it. I know I'm a bad reviewer and that it's hard to talk about this book without spoilers. But I will try.

All the Bright Places was compared a lot to Rowell's Eleanor and Park and John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. When you compare a new book to two great YA books... well that makes people a little bit skeptical and I am here to assure you that you have nothing to be afraid of! It has the sweet romance of Elearnor and Park (and the heavy subjects) and is dealing with a disease like The Fault in Our Stars does. Are you going to like it just as much? I think it depends on the person. I know I liked it more than The Fault in Our Stars, and that's because mental illness is a subject closer to home than cancer. I am not saying it's more important or devastating than cancer, but I also think there's a stigma attached to mental illnesses and it shouldn't be. People don't seem to understand or feel the same way about those who's illnesses don't present themselves physically or externally. How could you worry about someone who seems fine on the outside, right? This is what the book deals with, alongside with [SPOILER] loss, grief and suicide victims. [End of spoiler!]

The book takes turns between Violet's POV and Finch's POV. Finch is considered a freak. He is counting the days he is awake. Violet lost her big sister in a car accident. She is counting the days till graduation. Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school and one of them saves the other (cheeky me won't tell you who!).

The books is so focused on the main characters that I feel it ignores the secondary ones and I would've liked to see more of them too. The contrast between Violet's family and Finch's family made me think about mine. I know I am lucky to have grown in a lovely family who supported me in all of my crazy ideas. I thought that was normal. I mean, that should be the normal family! But then I learned about some of my friends' families and how different they are from mine. That's when I realized I am lucky, and I am grateful for my family every single day (even for the times when they told me "no").

It is a great YA book about mental illness and the stigma attached to it (I spent ten minutes trying to come up with a better word than "great", it's not happening, folks). Just give it a chance. It's gonna turn into a movie with Elle Fanning as Violet... and I have no idea how it's possible for a book that came out in January this year to have a movie deal already.

[SPOILERS]
It's hard to find words to express how much I liked this book. Great characters, great themes, great info and ideas, but especially a great way to talk about mental illness and the stigma attached to it, suicide, suicide survivors... and more. I will probably do a review of it on my blog after I'll process everything. I read the last 100 pages in one go and couldn't stop from crying.

I have a lot of thoughts about this and The Fault in Our Stars. I don't compare them in the way of this one is better and that one wasn't, cause they are both great and deal with different things. What I want to say is that... I was more affected by this one because I understand it better. There's also a great difference on how society views people that suffer from a physical illness/cancer and all that and how it sees the sufferers of mental illness. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 10, 2015 Kim Benouski rated it really liked it

This book reminds me a bit of Eleanor and Park but stands on its own. The topic is timely, and it's done in a unique way teens will love. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 17, 2019 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-childrens, contemporary, coming-of-age, listened-to

Finch and Violet are both going through a lot when they meet in the bell tower at their school. This book alternates between their two voices and it felt a lot like a John Green book to me. Very enjoyable and very sad, with a helpful message from the author at the end.

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