Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - A Review

Synopsis: 

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.

Date Finished: 8-29-15

Rating: 5/5

Thoughts:

*Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review!*

The moment I read the synopsis of this novel, I knew I had to read it. Instantly I thought of The Fault In Our Stars, and the train wreck of feels that it was. Luckily Everything, Everything isn’t as much about life and death as it is about simply living and taking advantage of the life we have to live. It had very much a Carpe Diem, Seize The Day type of feel to it, and I loved that about it. 

This book isn’t completely text. All throughout, we have snippets of IM and Email conversations, journal entries, medical charts and documents, book reviews and cute little sketches. This, coupled with the short chapters, makes it a fast, but memorable read. Nothing is put in this book just for fluff though. Every word and image have a purpose to bring Maddie’s story to life.

Speaking of Maddie, I absolutely loved her. She’s a reader, just like me, but mostly because she’s got nothing better to do that read and do homework due to her isolation. I loved that she’s actually half black, and half asian. DIVERSITY! I also loved than Nicola Yoon didn’t use Maddie’s race as a plot point. She simply is who she is, with her interesting curly hair and features. She’s brave and daring despite her sheltered life, and we really get to see how love changes her perspective on life.

Olly is a great character as well. He’s got family problems, but that doesn’t define him. He’s still a caring, thoughtful, and deep character, and you can really see that he comes to care for Maddie very much. To be honest, he felt more like he could be a real person than Augustus Waters ever could (I’m so sorry, Gus, but it’s true!)

The plot is really interesting. I won’t give any spoilers, but the last bit of the book threw me for a whirlwind of emotion. I loved that last chapter though, and I’m sure that if you read this and love it as much as I did, you will too. I couldn’t put the book down, always curious if the relationship would work out, if Maddie would be ok, and what would happen next! It’s definitely a page turner!

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary novels, and especially John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. This book is thoughtful and unique, and explores what it really means to live your life. 

Step aside, Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace Lancaster. Maddie and Olly might just be the next big thing. ;)