Item: Everything, Everything
Rating: 4.00
Author: pinkadot89

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.

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Everything, Everything was probably one of my most anticipated reads of 2015. It just sounded so different, and I totally love Bubble Boy. Madeline hasn't left her house since she was a baby. It's just her, her mom, and her nurse. She's never had a friend until Olly moves in next door and he changes her whole world. Her whole world being her house and bookshelves, since she can't actually experience anything in the world without the risk of dying. Maddy's safe life may be keeping her alive, but she's certainly not living.

I really enjoyed Everything, Everything. Maddy has a great voice. Even though she's trapped indoors with just her books and the same two people for company, she's not bitter, angry, or depressed. I think this mostly has to do with her not really knowing what she's missing. Theoretically she knows, but she's never had anything else so it's not like she knows-knows. I also loved how it's not just her narrative. There's letters, diary entries, drawings, charts, records, all kinds of things. It really added to the story for me, even if it made it feel super short.

The one thing that really kept me from loving Everything, Everything was the romance. Olly and Maddy are super adorable with their limited contact, but I was never fully sold on them as being in love. It wasn't even so much that it happened super quickly. I could believe that from Maddy, since he's the first boy she's ever talked to, and he's a great one. It just felt forced as a way to get her to want to explore the world. I would believed them much more as friends going on an adventure rather than lovers.

I was suspicious throughout Everything, Everything. Probably because I've seen Bubble Boy about a thousand times too many. But I didn't expect this ending at all. I was shocked and disturbed, and I wanted more! But it was the end! I needed to know more, because that is fascinating! I should probably shut up though, so I don't spoil anything.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

Reading updates

Started reading

6 June, 2015: Finished reading

6 June, 2015: Reviewed

Started reading

Finished reading

6 June, 2015: Reviewed