Thomas’s review of All the Bright Places > Likes and Comments

Great review Thomas! I actually started this one a little while ago and I had to set aside, mostly because of the reasons you stated. I didn't feel like Finch came off as a real person, but like you said I am glad there is more exposure on mental illness and books really do help people gain a perspective they might not have had before so that's something.

"Quirkiness does not equal depth" Yes, yes, and triple yes!

Great review, Thomas! Unfortunately author’s great intentions doesn’t equal great book. And I totally agree about Quirkiness for the Sake of Quirkiness

I've just started this book so it might be too soon to judge, but I have a feeling I'll agree with your assessment of Finch. I also laughed when I saw you refer to Violet as the Maniac Pixie Dream Girl. Here's a video pertaining that stereotype you might enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBNss...

Cara wrote: "Great review Thomas! I actually started this one a little while ago and I had to set aside, mostly because of the reasons you stated. I didn't feel like Finch came off as a real person, but like y..."

Thanks, Cara! We have such similar views on books sometimes. And I agree - I almost (and maybe I do) feel like Niven's author note/the resources at the back of the book make up for the lackluster quality of the writing and the characters. Let us hope that this book will raise more conversations about mental health in a way that sidesteps some of the more red-flag portions of the story.

Kevin wrote: ""Quirkiness does not equal depth" Yes, yes, and triple yes!"

Someone needed to say it. :)

Ksenia wrote: "Great review, Thomas! Unfortunately author’s great intentions doesn’t equal great book. And I totally agree about Quirkiness for the Sake of Quirkiness"

Thank you! Yeah, I feel like after John Green's success, so many have tried to copy his characters for the sake of making "relatable" teens, when really, quirkiness does not equate to accessibility, depth, or nuance. Quirkiness can coincide with those traits, but it does not always do so.

Lola wrote: "I've just started this book so it might be too soon to judge, but I have a feeling I'll agree with your assessment of Finch. I also laughed when I saw you refer to Violet as the Maniac Pixie Dream ..."

As always, I cannot wait to see/read your opinion, Lola. That video made me smile, and it did a great job of satirizing some of the problematic elements of the trope.

I was so bored throughout most of the book until the end, when Finch went to buy Violet flowers from the farm. I could sense a definite shift in the tone and writing style then (portraying manic/depression), and that and the author's note redeemed it for me.

Sharla wrote: "I was so bored throughout most of the book until the end, when Finch went to buy Violet flowers from the farm. I could sense a definite shift in the tone and writing style then (portraying manic/de..."

Sharla, I feel glad knowing that you appreciated the shift in tone you perceived at the end of the book, and Jennifer Niven's author's note did exemplify her good intentions with writing this book. If only she had implemented that level of prose throughout All the Bright Places, then more could have come out of the novel as a whole. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.

Most of the book felt so...dull. Like a simple, easy love story with all the elements we've already seen, so I was really bored with it. I'm glad I finished it because I thought it was cool how Niven tied everything together and how her writing style became more mature.

Thank you for your review, and for putting into words what I couldn't quite figure out. I definitely agree that the characters and story seemed a bit off, and the spirit of the thing was better than the actual execution. One comment: if anyone is the Maniac Pixie Dream Girl in this story, I'd say it's Finch. He's the one pulling Violet out of her three-mile-radius world, teaching her to live and love again, etcetera, etcetera.

Gabi wrote: "Thank you for your review, and for putting into words what I couldn't quite figure out. I definitely agree that the characters and story seemed a bit off, and the spirit of the thing was better tha..."

Thank you for your comment, Gabi! Glad we see eye to eye on several aspects of the story, and you make an interesting point about Finch being the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. When I wrote the review I kind of cast Violet in that role because of how Finch idolized her and ascribed so many magical qualities to her in a weird, unrealistic way. However, you're right that Finch does serve as Violet's "guide" within their relationship at many points in the plot. Alas.

Sharla wrote: "Most of the book felt so...dull. Like a simple, easy love story with all the elements we've already seen, so I was really bored with it. I'm glad I finished it because I thought it was cool how Niv..."

Agreed, Sharla, it got better by the end but still did not compensate for the rest of the book. Perhaps she will read some of our commentary on this one and improve with her next novel. :)

Great review, Thomas!
I'm looking for a good YA novel and I was going to read this one, but your review probably saved me. Do you have any recommendations from 2015 novels?

Anoosha wrote: "Great review, Thomas!
I'm looking for a good YA novel and I was going to read this one, but your review probably saved me. Do you have any recommendations from 2015 novels?"

Hey Anoosha! Yes, I have a few. On the YA side, have you read More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera? Out of all the books I have read this year that one has resonated with me the most. I would also recommend Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. That one is slightly more adult fiction than YA, but it has several intricate familial relationships that leave a mark.

I think you pretty much summed up the problems I had with it. Although I still quite enjoyed it, and certainly liked it more than TFIOS, there were some issues with it. I really like Niven though and I think I'll definitely be reading more of her work.

I feel like I don't need to write my own review because you summed it up perfectly!

Awesome review! While it sounds like the author's intentions were good, you point out some of the same things that would totally annoy me :) so I'll pass. Thanks, Thomas!

Yes to all of this. Including the authors note!

Just finished this book and your review pretty much sums up all of my thoughts and feelings, including the authors note! 👍🏼

This is EXACTLY how I felt. Thank you

you are so right!!!!