Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Double Day Canada
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Release Date: September 1st 2015
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 306
ISBN: 9780385683654
Author Website | Book Depository | Chapters/Indigo | Amazon | Goodreads
Everything, Everything is one of those books that you see everywhere that you go. It’s on every shelf in every book store, it’s on every top 10 young adult list of 2015, it is literally everywhere. It was even constantly on my Goodreads feed as everyone was reading this book! When a book, or even a film or television show, has the amount of hype surrounding it that Everything, Everything does, I’m usually a little hesitant to get in to it. I don’t want things to be so overhyped that by the time that I get to them, I’ve been let down. Unfortunately, I probably should have waited a little while longer as Everything, Everything wasn’t exactly what I hoped it would be.
Everything, Everything tells the story of Maddy, an eighteen year old teenager who suffers from SCID, which in simplest terms means that she is allergic to everything around her, making it impossible for her to even go outside. She has been confined to her home, where everything is properly sterilized, making it the only place where she can survive. Then she hears the sound of a moving truck outside of her home and notices new neighbours that are moving in to the house next door, including their attractive son Olly.
Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the story and I think that it definitely did have potential, but there was just something a little off about it. For one, it was extremely fast paced. I found that the romance within the novel was a little too quick and rushed. I felt as though we didn’t get to learn enough about the characters as individuals before they became a couple. We did learn a bit about Maddy and her past, but I think she could have been developed a little further. As for Olly, I don’t think we got to learn much about him at all. I think that both of these characters could have been great if we just knew a little bit more about them and their lives.
I thought that the writing style was great, especially the dialogue between characters. It felt real and true and age appropriate. There were things that I liked about Everything, Everything and then there were things that I did not. Basically the last quarter of the book had me feeling a little cheated. We are led to believe that the story is all about one thing. One girl and her health issues. And then it turns in to something else. I understand that it was meant to feel like a twist or a shocking turn of events, but I’m not sure that it was really necessary. Not every book needs a twist to be good.
Overall, this book had me feeling one way and then had me feeling another. I did enjoy the story for the majority of the novel, I just wish it didn’t have to switch everything up towards the end.
I had the exact same problems with this books! It’s a shame because, like you said, there was so much potential.
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Right? I had such high hopes and, sadly, I was let down. It was going so well too and then the ending happened…*sigh*
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Yes exactly! The first 100 pages I was like “wow this is great!” But then it all went downhill.
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I totally agree with what you said about not knowing enough about the characters. I felt like we never really got to know Olly at all.
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Honestly, his back story was a complete mystery. We got little tidbits, but not nearly enough detail!
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I recommend Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella, which follows a disturbingly similar plot line, but I assure you is a great read. Plus, it’s funny too!
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I have actually already read it!! I loved it!! I definitely prefer it over Everything, Everything!
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Oh that’s good! I really enjoyed it too 😀 I’m going to pick up everything everything soon and see how it compares
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I felt like the ending was too harsh, like it twisted its story in a way that felt forced and that’s why I think the ending of the book felt a bit weird. I liked it too but I think I won’t reread it, which is a factor that I have now adapted from movies to books as well.. I never thought I reread books but I reread two books from last year at the end of December so.. stuff happens. 😀
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Yeah I definitely agree with you about the ending! I’m also definitely not one to reread books, but there are a few that I maybe would like to someday!
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