My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
Let me start off by saying that Everything,Everything is my most anticipated read for early 2016. Therefore when I got it this month, I didn’t wait too long and placed it in my TBR right away. 🙂 I want to say that it has been a roller coaster ride with this one. I started it with too high of an expectation definitely because of the hype surrounding it all over BookTube and Book Twitter and in the book blogging community. Everything, Everything was EVERYTHING and it had to be read ASAP!
When I started reading this, I was so engaged and so excited about all the possibilities – everything I could know about SCID, the characters, the plot twist, the is-she-gonna-die question that lingers in my head and just about everything! Even the first line in the very first chapter was very artistically crafted:
…because of course she has read more than any of us has read, being trapped in her house for 18 full years with nothing to do but read! Ahh, Maddy’s books and her library are to-die for! Anyway, I just found this line to be a really good opening.
So the first quarter of the book, I was all in. When I was around the halfway mark, though, I felt like nothing really interesting was happening anymore. I tried pushing through because despite some of the bland scenes, there was something in me that has been invested to what will come out of this sort-of forbidden love between Olly and Maddy. I honestly thought of putting it down for a while, though, because I kinda got annoyed with how young love could be stupid sometimes. I mean, if you’ve read the book, there are just super stupid stuff Olly and Maddy are so willing to do for love. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the feeling, it’s just that I wanted Maddy to LIVE so bad and I want to protect her!
I was able to psych myself, though, and I placed myself in their shoes – young and in love and in a huge want (need!) to live life! It worked. And so did the rest of the book. The latter part definitely pulled everything nicely and compensated for what went haywire in the middle. The wrap up was so good, the ending was a gold mine for realizations on life.
Maddy and Olly are probably two of the characters that will stay with me a long time. They are so different yet so similar. There wasn’t much character development that I was looking for, but they have made closures about their life issues and they turned up generally good in the end.
Honestly, though, there are some points in this book that I wanted to stop them with whatever they’re doing and remind them that HEY, MADDY IS SICK! AND YOU CAN’T BE THIS RECKLESS!! I mean, I know it’s probably the age difference, I’m sorry! Haha. But then again, they’re 18! And speaking of age, I kinda also had a hard time reconciling the fact that they’re 18 already because their voices felt so much younger. I pictured Maddy to be 15-ish actually, because that’s what I “hear” from her. It’s not much of a big issue, though. Still loved them.
I loved Everything, Everything. It wasn’t perfect, but it made me laugh, definitely made me cry, touched my heart, touched my soul, and made me think about my life. I guess the best thing about it is that it will reach you – it will make you feel.
Have you guys read Everything, Everything? How did you like it? Let’s talk in the comments below! Can’t wait! ❤
Damn. i still haven’t read this, but would like to get to it soon. 🙂
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Read it, Sandee! It’s a breath of fresh air!
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Yeah I need those kids of books! 🙂
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This book will always have a special spot in my heart. I thought it was really cute! I’m glad you enjoyed the book too, despite the bland scenes. I can’t wait for the movieeeeee!!! Great review, Kat!
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Thanks, girl! I’m planning to read The Sun is Also a Star next! Heard it was even better than Everything, Everything! 🙂 Can’t wait! Have you read it?
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