All the Bright Places

“The thing I realize is, that it's not what you take, it's what you leave."This is one of those books that is difficult to review because it's so utterly beautiful and gut-wrenching that no amount of words will do the book justice. Every single line in this novel is quote-worthy, and is life-changing. Seriously, when you read this book (and you should be reading it right this second), your eyes will be opened and you'll realize how breathtaking the writing is. Ms. Niven knows her way with words, and the story she has created will sweep you off of your feet. You might not realize at first how much you are enjoying the story, and then suddenly...BAM! It hits you. You might need to put it down for a second to do something, but you'll find that you can't because you need to find out what will happen to these characters and make sure things turn out okay (even though you know deep down that the conclusion won't be that okay). Honestly, this book will give you an experience like no other, and it is an experience everyone needs to have.“The great thing about this life of ours is that you can be someone different to everybody.”This novel follows Finch and Violet. Finch lives between states of the Asleep and the Awake, while Violet lives between states of Before and After. You can find out what exactly that means when you read, but they are just what the other needs. These characters are suffering in their own unique ways, and it reminds you that just because a person might look alright on the surface, you don't truly know what is going on beneath the mask they put on in their daily life. Finch and Violet go through many hardships, some of which they go through together, while others they must go through alone, but it is a beautiful thing to read and witness. Both characters had so much depth, a depth that takes many authors to establish over an entire series. But, Ms. Niven does it in one book. And that is something to admire.“You know what I like about you, Finch? You’re interesting. You’re different. And I can talk to you. Don’t let that go to your head.”… “You know what I like about you, Ultraviolet Remarkey-able? Everything.”The romance between Violet and Finch shines off the pages, and is beautiful. I don't even know how to express how much I loved them as a couple. Violet and Finch were destined to meet, and they were meant for each other. They brought things out in each other that no one else could, and isn't that the point behind a solid relationship?“You have been in every way all that anyone could be.… If anybody could have saved me it would have been you.”Now onto the ending. It broke me, plain and simple. I knew what was going to happen. Deep down, I really knew. But, did it make it any less heartbreaking...no. That being said, it was amazing. I don't usually cry during books, but the entire ending of this novel brought tears to my eyes. I was simply in awe of how meaningful and deep the ending was. There really are no words to describe what you experience, you just have to read and find out.“Sometimes there’s beauty in the tough words—it’s all in how you read them.”This book deals with very difficult subjects, but Ms. Niven handles everything with a grace and gentle hand. She doesn't shy away from things, or make things lighter. But she does give the reader something to think about by the time they are finished reading. This to me is the hallmark of an amazing book. I am so grateful that I read this book, as it reminded me the importance of living our lives to the fullest and to always appreciate the small things. So go forth and wander...whether it's to the bookstore to get this book, or just someplace you've never been. You'll get why I said that after you read this book. And most importantly:“I learned that there is good in this world, if you look hard enough for it. I learned that not everyone is disappointing, including me, and that a 1,257 bump in the ground can feel higher than a bell tower if you’re standing next to the right person.”Happy reading :)

I received an ARC from the publisher; however, the following is still my honest opinion.Sometimes a book manages a rare feat of being a combination of every wonderful thing a YA contemporary book could be all in one. All the Bright Places manages this with its heart, humor, love and depth. If I could recommend one book to anyone, it will be All the Bright Places and I can’t imagine that changing for a long time to come. It’s hard to write a review for one of the best books you have ever read, and truly All the Bright Places has earned a place among my favorite books of all time. I finished reading my ARC a few weeks ago, and yet here I am still consumed with so many thoughts, emotions and feelings about how amazing this book was. This book gets blurbed as “The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park” and while those books are great too, this book doesn’t need comparisons or propping from other YA books because it truly is so wonderfully written that it stands out all on its own, apart from anything else.Finch and Violet captured my heart. Finch and Violet meet at the top of their schools bell tower and against all odds become friends. They come from two different worlds but that bell tower meeting connects them. They may have been up there thinking about what it would be like to just end it all, jump from that ledge; but finding each other up there changes every thing. Sure they have seen each other around school before, but they don’t know each other. Could fate have brought them both, in their own despair and grief for different reasons, to that bell tower to be together?Violet doesn’t want to like Finch, she really doesn’t but sometimes you get no choice in who you fall for. A school project to discover the “natural wonders” of their home state of Indiana (my home state too!) brings them together yet again. They traverse Indiana for their project, but really it’s so much deeper than that. They aren’t just traveling for school, they are traveling for their lives- for the meaning they need, for the reasons to live and a reason to be together.Finch is such an adorable guy but it’s clear that he has his own personal demons, which we see through his troubles at school and sessions with a school counselor. Violet lost her sister in a tragic death and all she wants is an escape. Together maybe, just maybe they can find what they are looking for with help from each other. Their friendship grows and Jennifer Niven’s prose absolutely captures the young love, and her words made you feel so happy and hopeful for Violet and Finch. You can just picture Finch charming Violet and making her smile, all because of how wonderful the words are that capture the moments.Mental illness is a topic that deserves so much attention than it gets in our world and the way Jennifer Niven uses it in this book is a perfect example of the right way to discuss mental illness in fiction. Mental illness is NEVER something to be ashamed of but society has let us believe it is. Finch is afraid to get help because of the labels he knows exist. The same labels that society throws on people all the time. Jennifer Niven’s perfectly shows the problems of how mental illness is perceived in our society throughout this book. Violet and Finch meet on a bell tower where one of them is very much considering suicide. Suicide is another almost taboo topic in society because it’s so misunderstood, but Jennifer Niven shows suicide for what it often really is- a result of someone being mentally ill . Mental illness is just that an illness and I hope that people read this book and see how mental illness can and does affect people and how it affects the people around those who are suffering from a mental illness.Jennifer Niven managed to write something unlike what I expected and yet exactly every thing I could have hoped for in a book. I feel like all my words are inadequate to express how wonderful this book truly is. This YA book had me falling in love, laughing and crying along with Violet and Finch. This book filled me with both sadness and hope. Jennifer Niven managed to get so many emotions into one book and yet it was all just right, it wasn’t too much. It was just what was needed. I want everyone to read this book and experience this ride with the beautiful prose and take the emotional journey.Anna @ Lostbraincell's Bookish Blog

This one gets you. My heart hurt afterthis book. My favorite literary character in the world is Finch. He is beautiful, brilliant and genius is always misunderstood. My daughter read this first and then got me to read it. She wanted it for Christmas and I purchased this for her. Such a unique story of friendship and love, and very life like. I love that the numbers are in the back of the book and that this creates more awareness for such a heartbreaking subject. I loved this book.

Não tenho o costume de ler YA, então não sabia muito o que esperar desse livro. Comprei porque li a sinopse e me interessei. Acabei me surpreendendo muito com a escrita e o rumo da história. Gostei tanto que comprei a versão em inglês também. Acho que tem alguns problemas com o desenvolvimento de alguns personagens, até mesmo da Violet, que só passei a gostar do meio pro fim da história. Mas no geral, me emocionei e me identifiquei com o livro. Acho que por ser baseado na vida da autora, ela conseguiu ser bem realista ao tratar dos temas abordados no livro.Trigger warning: se você for sensível às temáticas de morte e suicídio, não leia essa livro, pois fala-se disso o tempo todo.Ps.: não percam tempo assistindo ao filme, é muito inferior ao livro.

This boom was a good, emotional and fast paced book. I loved this book a lot. I remember loving the movie a few years ago, so I wanted to read the book. After reading the book I watched the movie again and honestly, the movie was really bad in comparison. Even though I loved the book, the frequent mentions of "to kill a mockingbird" were kind of annoying at a certain point.

My book came damaged and had a big rip from The side

Boek beschadigd aangekomen, helemaal vervormd en gekreukte bladen.