A Messy, Beautiful Life

by Sara Jade Alan

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 stars

I always have good luck with Entangled books. They are usually sweet and heartwarming, but often deal with much lighter topics. I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, as cancer is a pretty weighty thing and to have to read about someone so young dealing with it, can be very difficult. I was very pleased with the way Alan dealt with the topic. She addressed it head on, but she tempered it with so many other wonderful things, that I cried more happy than sad tears.



This review originally appeared on We Live and Breathe Books

•Pro: Improv! I can honestly say, this is the first YA book I have read that features improv, and it was really fun. Plus, I got a good education on improv too.

•Pro: I felt a lot of feels. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, my heart raced from excitement. Alan did an excellent job bringing me on this journey with Ellie and her family.

•Pro: Ellie was fabulous. I found her funny and so real. She had wit, charm, and a great attitude, but she was also vulnerable.

•Pro: This is a cancer story written by a cancer survivor.
Con: I swear, this is going on my tombstone. The ending was ok, but I wanted a little more. This was such a fabulous story, and I was left somewhat wanting.

•Pro: Alan kept this story from entering melodrama land, and it made it more enjoyable for me.

•Pro: Ellie and Jason were so good together. I was shipping them after their very first meeting.

•Pro: The way Craig and Ellie's relationship blossomed filled my heart with joy. I like that there was a lot more to him than met the eye, and I am a fan of non-traditional type families too.

•Pro: Ellie's mom is a star. 😘

•Pro: Friendships! So many great friends in this one, and they really stepped it up in Ellie's hour of need.



Overall: This was a beautiful and funny story about something not funny. It made my heart ache and made my heart fill with joy. Alan gave us a story with depth and weight, but kept us from drowning in sadness by tempering it with humor and lots of love.


**I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS