Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything

by Nicola Yoon

Risk everything for love with this #1 New York Times bestseller from Nicola Yoon • "Gorgeous and lyrical"—The New York Times Book Review

What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the sun warm your face . . . or kiss the boy next door? In Everything, Everything, Maddy is a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world, and Olly is the boy who moves in next door . . . and becomes the greatest risk she’s ever taken. 

"This extraordinary first novel about love so strong it might kill us is too good to feel like a debut. Tender, creative, beautifully written, and with a great twist, Everything, Everything is one of the best books I've read this year."—Jodi Picoult

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.

Everything, Everything will make you laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. It's an innovative, inspiring, and heartbreakingly romantic debut novel that unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, illustrations, and more. 

And don’t miss Nicola Yoon's bestselling novels The Sun Is Also A Star and Instructions for Dancing.

Reviewed by Linda on

2 of 5 stars

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This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
Everything, Everything is quite beautifully written, but there were some things that I guessed when I was only a few pages in... and that kind of spoiled me - just like Madeline's spoiler reviews.


Story:


Madeline has lived apart from the world for as long as she can remember. Her dad and her brother died in a car accident when she was young, so it's just her, her mom and Carla. When the new neighbours move in, Madeline starts observing them, and she quickly realizes that the dad is abusive, the two teen-aged children are angry, and the mom is trying to keep the peace.

Madeline spent most of her time reading - and writing spoiler reviews. Beware - if Madeline reviewed a book you haven't read yet, you'll be spoiled. Because Madeline was allergic to the world, she spent all her time inside, but she never really seemed that upset about it. Most teenagers would have questioned their mom at one point - as the mom was her physician, and Madeline never got to leave the house, nor have any visitors. Apart from her architecture teacher.

Characters:


Madeline has spent her whole life indoors, no friends, no other people than her mom and her nurse. Home-schooled, and reading a lot fills her days. Madeline's mom is a doctor, and she makes sure Madeline stays safe and healthy. Carla is Madeline's nurse, and she wants Madeline to live a little more than she has up until now. Olly is the new next-door neighbour, who is, of course, hot and broody.

Writing style :


First person present tense from Madeline's point of view. This made me get to know Madeline well, but some of it was a stream of consciousness that could border on annoying.

Feels :


I was frustrated most of all. I didn't understand why Madeline didn't ask more questions. Or why Carla didn't take her to another doctor if she had reservations. I was also upset with Madeline's mom, even if she was probably the one who was actually sick.



And it's the wanting that pulls me back down to earth hard. The wanting scares me. It's like ta weed that spreads slowly, just beneath your notice. Before you know it, it's pitted your surfaces and darkened your windows.

I take Alice to my white couch and settle in. Carla's right of course. I am OK, but, like Alice, I'm just trying not to get lost. 

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 20 July, 2017: Finished reading
  • 20 July, 2017: Reviewed