All the Bright Places has been showing up in a lot of places lately. I saw it at the library. I noticed reviews of it online from people I trust. I saw comparisons of it to other books I really liked — I’ll Give You the Sun and Eleanor & Park, to name a few. So I knew I had to add it to the list.
And I’m glad I did. It really was lovely.
And sad. Did I mention it was sad? Because it was really, really sad.
Violet and Finch go to the same ginormous high school. They don’t really know each other, but they know of each other. Finch knows who Violet is because Violet’s sister died in a car accident the year before. Violet knows who Finch is because EVERYONE knows who Finch is, but nobody really knows Finch, if you know what I mean. Finch is the kid who gets in trouble all the time, who dresses like a freak, who comes and goes as he pleases. And Violet gets good grades and wants to be a writer. So their paths don’t really cross.
Until they find themselves standing across from each other at the top of the school’s bell tower, both thinking about what it would be like to jump.
Finch and Violet slowly become friends, working on a class project together, which of course leads to them becoming something more than friends. And like most realistic teenage relationships, you know right away that this isn’t going to end well, and that one, or both of these beautiful characters is going to get hurt.
The writing of this book is simply lovely. Jennifer Niven’s gave each character a distinctive voice, so that when the narrative switched from Violet to Finch, it was always a smooth transition. And the adults were really well drawn too — they weren’t just stereotypical high school characters. Finch’s parents, Violet’s parents, and the guidance counselors at the school were all important and realistic, no matter how small a part they played, no matter whether or not their actions were brutally horrible or brutally supportive.
And yes, I cried. I knew I was going to, and I did. But I’m glad I did, as it was a cathartic cry, and I felt better about the book after the tears dried.
Highly recommend.
You can read the rest of my reviews on my blog.
This is one of those books I see popping up on my recommended lists; it’s nice to know it’s as good as advertised! I’ll have to check it out soon.
I’ve been off the YA bandwagon lately, and this book got me back on. it’s really good!
Happy half cannonball!
Thank you! I didn’t even realize!
I don’t know about this book. It sounds like it might be too much for me. But half Cannonball, yay!
thanks!
Yeah, it’s not easy. It’s so well done, but not really “enjoyable”. Even with the parts that were happy and fun, I had such a sense of dread.
This sounds a lot like Fault in Our Stars, a masterful piece of storytelling but too many tears for me (I still have FIOS on DVR and have yet to find a night where “sobbing uncontrollably” sounds like a good idea). But yay – half cannonball!
Thanks! I’m excited to be half-way through and it isn’t even June yet. That is a record for me.
Yeah, I haven’t been able to watch TFIOS yet, either. When exactly is the right time to schedule in a night of sobbing?
A night where you have surplus wine. Or gin. Gin is good for crying.
I like the way you think.
Happy half Cannonball! I have added the book to my list, but will have to read it at a less stressful time of the year. I fear that if I start crying now, I won’t stop for quite some time. I hate post-mid-term correction hell.
Thank you!
I can’t imagine how much more this book might have affected me if I worked in a school or with young people on a regular basis. Your instinct to wait a bit is probably a good one!