Want an “at a glance” look at what I thought? Check out my Review On A Post-It or my “Final Thought”
Madeline hasn’t been able to leave her house for the past 18 years as she has a rare disease that basically makes her allergic to the world. The only people come in her house are her mom, nurse and sometimes a tutor who all have to undergo a long decontamination process. One day she looks out her window to see a family moving in and she makes eye contact with a boy her age. They start communicating from the window and email and she knows she’s falling in love and she knows it’s pretty impossible considering she’s stuck in her house.
WOW.
I really liked this one but am having a hard time figuring out just WHAT to say about it. I want you to know that the main character has lived a bubble basically her life. She’s had this really super rare disease that basically makes her allergic to the world because they don’t know what triggers these deadly attacks to her body. She lives in her house with her mom and the only two people who come in besides her are her nurse and sometimes a tutor — and they have to go through major decontamination. I want you to know that she meets a boy that moves in next door and that they start talking via email. And they fall for each other. That’s what I want you to know. I don’t want to give any hints on if they end up together or how they have a relationship given her disease. I feel like any reactions I have will give too much away.
Things I’m willing to say: it’s such a cute and heartwarming book but also it’s deeply heartbreaking in ways. I loved how it explored how, once she tasted what having love and a boyfriend would be like and experienced things she never had, she could never go back to the life she had. I loved watching her trying to wrestle with that even though it hurt my heart — watching her realize all that she has missed out on and FEELING it. I will also say the writing was excellent and I totally shipped them even though it felt like an impossible ship.
I have some conflicted feelings that I honestly keep waffling back and for towards regarding aspects to the ending but overall really enjoyed this!!
If you’ve read it, here’s what I’m going back and forth over. SPOILERS.
[spoiler]I thought it was a good twist though I had an inkling that maybe the mom was not entirely truthful. But at the same time, a friend and I’ve been talking about the ending and if we think it was a cop-out or not. But then I’m like okay but would I have liked anything else better?? Like a cure or whatever? IDK. Very back and forth. [/spoiler]
+ plot, writing, romance
– unsure how I feel about a thing
contemporary YA fans, people looking for a romance that is unique
Everything, Everything is a book with a unique romance that felt impossible but I still totally shipped. I had a lot of FEELS for the main character and her situation especially as it played out. It was well written and I every much enjoyed that it wasn’t like anything I’ve really read before.
* Have you read this one? What did you think? Similar or different from me? I would LOVE to hear regardless!
*If you haven’t read it, does it feel like something you’d be into?
If you’ve read it, did you expect what happened?? (mark spoilers please)
Theresa @ Until We Read Again says
Great review! I just received this one for review and I cannot wait to read it! 🙂 It is going to be the next book I pick up. I am glad you really enjoyed it. 🙂
Jamie says
I will be so curious as to what you think!!
Kristin @ Simply Bookish Things says
Totally agree with what you mentioned in the spoilery section, defintely not sure of what to think of the ending..
Jamie says
It had me so split! On one hand I was like BRILLIANT. on the other I was like HRMMMM. I don’t even know what would have made it a better ending though so I’m just so torn!
Lois @ My Midnight Musing says
I’ve heard a lot of great things about this book. The premise sounds very interesting and I’m excited to see how the story unfolds under the circumstances. I’ll definitely be checking this out soon. 😀
Jamie says
Hope you enjoy it as well!!
Alexa S. says
Everything, Everything was really interesting! I liked Maddy a lot. She’s such a lovely person, in spite of her condition and the limits it sets on her, and I really think she and I would get along in real life.
Jamie says
Yes! She totally did seem like the type of person I’d want to be friends with! Someone you could learn a lot from and has an intersting perspective on life. I think that’s why you feel so even MORE heartbreaking for her with the ~twist~ because she is legit a good person and she hasn’t just sat around being miserable and feeling sorry for herself..she’s found ways to be happy and to learn stuff even if it’s hard not to be part of the outside world.
Kyra @ Blog of a Bookaholic says
I have this on my TBR pile and I’m really looking forward to reading it! Great review! 🙂
Jamie says
Thank you! Hope you end up enjoying it!!
Hannah @ The Irish Banana Review says
YES, JAMIE. ALL OF THIS.
Especially your spoiler section. It’s weird because I think I like this book … but there was a lot of WTFery moments that STILL have me puzzled and a little annoyed. But I still think I really liked it.
Jamie says
YES it was so hard to explain because I’m like I LIKE IT but also I felt weird about the end but can’t explain WHY.
Maggie says
Thank you for your review! I’m really looking forward to reading this one! Happy reading! 🙂
Jamie says
I hope you enjoy it when you get around to it!!
Holly says
I’ve heard a lot of positive things about this book, but I’m still a little unsure if I want to read it! It sounds awesome, but I’m just not sure my heart can take it….I’m terrified it’s going to turn into another “Fault In Our Stars” book *that book was amazing, don’t get me wrong, but the FEELS it gave me. Pretty sure I cried for like ten hours*. You made it sound like it won’t be one of those types of heartbreakers, so I may have to check it out!!Let’s just hope I have some tissues on hand in case it is!
Jamie says
I think it will break your heart but NOT in the way that TFIOS did. It’s different. I promise! TFIOS made me feel hollow…this did not! I don’t want to say too much else but if you fear TFIOS feels…..have no fear!
Hayley @ Bookblogher says
I really want to read this one! I’m totally drawn in by the art.
Jamie says
The cover is one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen!!
Pili @ In Love With Handmade says
I’ve read reviews of the book that mostly were super positive and with yours I feel like I’m tempted enough to give this one a try even if contemporaries are not my go to genre!
Jamie says
I think it’s a good one if you are feeling like you want a quick contemporary read in between other stuff!
Mallory @ The Leaning Tower of Tomes says
I was spoiled for the twist at the end, so I read the entire book with an eyebrow raised at everything. But as a cop-out or not, I think I prefer the ending we got, instead of the opposite, because that would have been just sad and depressing. But I did enjoy this book more than I thought I would! Maddy and Ollie were adorable.
Jamie says
OH MAN. I hate that you were spoiled!!! Yeah, that’s what I kept thinking about…would I like the other alternative to an ending?? and I felt like the answer was no. It’s so bizarre because I feel so conflicted about the ending but don’t know WHY or what I would have thought made me NOT feel that way. GAH.