THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V. E. Schwab

“‘France, 1714. A desperate woman makes a desperate deal in the dark – a bargain to live forever but be remembered by none.’ So begins the invisible life of Addie LaRue, a shadow muse to artists throughout history, forgotten friend, confidante and love, slipping away with the morning light. Addie passes through lives, desperate to only leave a trace of herself. Until the day she walks back into a small bookshop in Manhattan and meets Henry, who remembers her. After 300 years, Addie’s life is restarting, but the devil never plays fair. As Henry and Addie’s lives start to intertwine, they must face the consequences of the decisions they’ve made and the prices to be paid. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a dazzling adventure across centuries and continents, across history and art, about a young woman learning how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.”

What is the book about?

Born in France in 1714 Addie LaRue is feels stuck in her life in a small village. She wants to see and experience so many things but hasn’t stepped outside the edges of the village in years. She knows that time is running out and that if she doesn’t do something soon she will find herself trapped in the same boring life as all the other girls and will die without having seen anything. So one day she makes a desperate deal with one of the gods that answer after dark – the very god she was warned not to pray to. For the rest of time, until she is done with her soul and has seen all she wants to see, she will be able to wander the world and truly live, but will never be remembered by anyone she meets. A shadow of a girl, but she will learn to leave her mark as a muse to artists and musicians who will never remember her or how their art came to be. However, after 300 years, something terrifying and magical happens… Addie meets a boy who remembers her. Henry hasn’t forgotten anything about her and it feels like fate for them to meet, but the devil doesn’t play fair and soon it’s clear that they didn’t find each other by chance. They each made a deal and now they have to live with the consequences because once that deal is made, there is no going back.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I had had The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue on my bookshelf for probably over a year and would always remember it was there at a time when I couldn't really pick it up and read it, like when I was in the middle of a huge series or had exams coming up. So when I finished the trilogy I was reading before this and glanced at my shelf with no idea what to read next, I spotted this book and decided to finally dive in. I was both excited and concerned to read the book as I have found that most people either love it or hate it and I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it. However I decided to give it a chance and to read to the end no matter what I thought (which I usually do with most books even if I am hating them as I hate to stop in the middle and leaving books unfinished). I didn't quite know what to expect but the blurb really interested me and made me think initially that it would be a very subtle story (as compared to my usual wild fantasy books) and it would probably make me cry. I am quite happy to say that it was exactly what I expected and, even though it took me a while to start loving the book, once I got to the end I was completely broken and in love. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

I am honestly torn between the 2 main characters of the book, Addie and Henry. I loved Addie because of how brave and smart she was. I loved the ending because of how it showed that Addie wasn’t just a naïve girl who made a deal with the devil but that she was much more cunning and intelligent that anyone ever knew. She lived through centuries and struggled through many situations that no one should ever have to live through, yet she continued on and didn’t give up her soul at the first sign of trouble because of how determined she was to not lose to Luc and to see everything there was to see in the world. I also loved Henry because of how easy it was to relate to him and his situation. All he wanted was to just be loved by everyone and to be enough for everyone because he felt like he was never enough and that he would never find someone who would love him as much as he loved them. He may have been a bit stupid in his decision and might have made a terrible deal, but in the moment he was in pain and just wanted some time with the feeling of being loved. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

There were many parts I liked, however there was one that really stood out to me. Addie had lived for hundreds of years and had seen so many places and magical things, however in this specific part of the book Henry takes her to somewhere where she is once again left amazed at the beauty of the world and how much there is to see. I loved this part because I loved the knowledge that there is always more to see and explore and to know that our world still has secrets that someone who has lived for more than 3 lifetimes can be surprised about. It made me want so desperately to travel and finally see more than just the small area that is my life and I know that I want to be just as amazed by it all as Addie. I also loved how Henry wanted so badly to find something that Addie had never seen before and that he took the time to really think and to show her something so magical.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I don’t think this was the best book I have ever read, but I did enjoy reading it and especially loved the ending. One reason I didn’t really love the book as a whole was because I found it so difficult to get into the book at the beginning and until the end it was quite an uneventful story that I’m sure many people would have found boring. I didn’t hate this as I did find that the subtle story was actually quite enjoyable, however I feel like a lot could have been simplified or left out. On the other hand, one reason I really enjoyed the book was the way the book was structured with all the flashbacks. It was a very gradual way of giving us as the readers the information on both Addie and Henry and what happened in their lives to lead them to make a deal with the devil. I love flashbacks because I love to see what characters were like in the past and I think it is one of the best ways of telling your readers about the character’s past experienced and show them how they came to be who they are. One other thing I loved was the ending. It was one of the most heart-breaking ends I have read and it made me want to lose my memory so I could read the book again just to experience the ending and the emotions I felt while reading it. It might not have been the most conclusive ending and I’m sure that plenty of people hated the fact that there wasn’t much in the form of closure and that the characters didn’t exactly get a happy ending (or really an ending at all), however I really enjoyed it and thought that it really fit with the whole story and the aesthetic of it. The whole book was very subtle and open ended so it felt right to have a very open ended ending where it is clear that their story hasn’t really ended at all and a new chapter has actually begun. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I do recommend this book, especially for those who love romance and contemporary novels, however if you are under 14 or don't enjoy books with no action that take a while to really start and that you may class as 'boring' then this may not be the best book for you.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A heart-breaking and mysterious novel full of romance and intrigue. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

PAPER TOWNS by John Green

“‘The thing about Margo Roth Spiegelman is that really all I could ever do was let her talk, and then when she stopped talking encourage her to go on, due to the facts that 1. I was incontestably in love with her, and 2. she was absolutely unprecedented in every way, and 3. She never really asked me any questions…’ Quentin Jacobsen had always loved Margo from afar. So when she climbs trough his window to summon him on an all-night road trip of revenge he cannot help but follow. But the next morning, Q turns up at school and Margo doesn’t. She’s left clues to her disappearance, like a trail of breadcrumbs for Q to follow. And everything leads to one unavoidable question: Who is the real Margo?

What is the book about?

Quentin has been Margo Roth Spiegelman’s neighbour for as long as he can remember and when they were younger they were great friends.  However as the years went by Margot got more and more interesting and amazing, while Quentin just stayed the ordinary boy he always was, continuing to watch her from afar, though she barely paid any attention to him, and admiring her strength and Margo-ness,  something that no one else could possibly comprehend. So one night, when Margo climbs through his bedroom window, he can do nothing except follow her into an adventure he couldn’t have imagined. Although at the start he regretted it, later in the night he began to realise he made the right choice to follow the girl here he had loved for so long. After the trip of revenge and felony was over, they finally arrive back home and Quentin is ready to see Margot at school next morning. However, when he arrives at school Margo is not there – she seems to have just disappeared and run away from home. But she's done this before and she always leaves clues, like a trail of breadcrumbs leading to her location. Quentin doesn't believe that she's just gone, he believes that she made it so that he would find her, so he must follow the clues before it's too late and embarks on a journey to uncover the real Margo Roth Spiegelman.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

After reading The Fault in Our Stars  quite a while back, I realised how much I was going to enjoy the majority of John Green’s books so I made the decision to purchase as many as I could of the ones that I knew I was going to enjoy. Paper Towns was one of these books. As soon as I laid eyes on the cover, I knew that I was going to really enjoy it and the blurb did nothing but make me more and more excited at the fact that I was going to read another incredible and heart-breaking novel. When I finally began reading, after months of having it lying on my shelf collecting dust, I realised just how much I was missing out on from leaving it there so long. But slowly I continued to read and began to realise that maybe I had been too quick to judge. I truly did start of believing I wasn’t going to like this book, but now I am just disappointed and want those hours of my life back.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

This is one of the first few books where I truly do not have a favourite character. Although these characters felt more real than in any other book I have ever read because they act like real teenagers, annoyed and stressed and attempting anything just to procrastinate actually studying. However, how realistic they were is what made them so annoying because I personally feel like teenagers are annoying and I don’t really like many of them. I know this is quite hypocritical as I myself am a teen and I’m sure that many people find me annoying, but these characters where being just annoying and were constantly getting on my nerves. I hated Margo so much and I know for a fact that I wouldn’t even consider her to be my 10th favourite character, let alone the number 1. I found her so selfish and self-centred, and it was clear that she really believed that the world should revolve around her and that other people should worship her. The worst thing about her was how she made herself the victim saying that she found it tiresome being a perfect person that everyone liked. She also said Quentin should be grateful for how she had kept the other bullies, who were her friends, away from him, but I thought that was really annoying and selfish as she hadn’t thought of how she was just as horrid as them for allowing the bullying to happen in the first place. She really reminded me of all the horrible girls from my secondary school and how they always thought they were the most important. Quentin was also definitely not my favourite character and I thought he was really whiny and irritating. His obsession with Margo, who he didn't really even know because he just saw her from afar and thought she was amazing because of how pretty and cool she looked, was really annoying. I liked that the message of the book was really clear through his obsession because it shows us that we don’t really know people for who they really are, we only know the version of them that they choose to share and that we choose to see, but it was still hard to have to listen to him constantly talking about her and just abandoning everything for a girl who had paid no attention to him for years.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

Just like how I didn’t have a favourite character, I also don’t think that I have a favourite part of the book. Overall the book wasn’t that good, but highlighting some parts of the book and getting rid of the more boring and annoying parts doesn’t make it that bad of a book. Some of the parts that I did really enjoy were the chapters with the incredible inspirational quotes and the parts that had the funny and really ridiculous quotes. The book really did make me laugh, especially at the beginning. The ending might have been my favourite if it hadn’t have been so plain, but it really was good how it showed the true message of the book and how people aren’t who they seem, they are who they show you and what you choose to see. The beginning I think is probably my favourite then because it was a hilarious introduction to the characters and the start did actually make me laugh out loud quite a bit, but I am not sure if I could actually call it my favourite part.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, this probably wasn’t one of the best books I have read and, although I was a really big fan of John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, I found this book quiet disappointing and boring. The further I got into the book, the worse I got. Firstly, let’s begin with the few things that I actually liked about the book. I think the thing that I liked best was probably the road trip. It was fun and entertaining and showed how really the only thing that teens actually want is to get the chance to drive around feeling all independent and strong and that travelling is one of the things that the majority of people want to get a chance to do in their lives. However it was a little bit unrealistic. Another thing that I did like was the quotes in the book. There were actually some very inspirational ones and this is one of the things that I enjoy the most about John Green’s books; he really is a phenomenal writer. One specific quote that I really loved was one about Margo and how she wasn’t some incredible being or mythical creature, or some “precious thing”, “she was a girl”. I really liked that Quentin finally realised that Margo wasn’t incredible; she was just a regular girl. Now let’s start listing the things that I didn’t like about the book and one giant one is Margo. She was definitely the most annoying character I have ever read about. The constant repetition of her name has made it impossible for me to ever forget the name Margo Roth Spiegelman. She was portrayed as the perfect girl. A legend that was entitled to do whatever the hell she wanted. I didn't care if she would be found or if she had killed herself, and to be honest I think it would have been a much better book if she had killed herself because then it would make sense and she could have been the girl constantly being forced into perfection and feeling the pressure. She really didn't deserve the attention she got and I am glad that I never have to read about her again.  I also got very confused at what the plot even was and it’s another thing I didn’t like because I was just so puzzled at the end at what the purpose of the book even was. There was also maybe supposed to be some romance or something but I was also really confused at what all of that was about. It truly didn’t make any sense. The pace was just really slow after a certain point and I feel like a lot could have been avoided. Another thing that I didn’t like was the fact that Quentin and his friends skipped their graduation for a road trip to find one of the most annoying human being on the planet. I found it extremely unrealistic and so confusing. After a while I started to really wish that the book would end so I could move on with my life, but a part of me wished that something actually happened at the end so that the book could have made sense. It was a decent book at the start, but I would have done a lot of things differently in the middle and at the end.

Would you recommend this book?  

I don’t really recommend the book, but feel free to read and waste your time. If you do read it I recommend it for over 14 year olds, who enjoy a little adventure and don’t mind getting quite annoyed at cheesy and needy characters. But do not read it if you aren’t prepared for a confusing and utterly pointless plot. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A slow paced road trip adventure with inspirational quotes but a pointless plot.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

ALL THIS TIME by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott

“Can you find true love after losing everything? Kyle and Kimberly are the perfect couple. At least that’s what Kyle’s always thought. But when Kimberly breaks up with him on the night of their graduation party, Kyle’s entire world is turned upside down – literally. Their car crashes, and when Kyle wakes up he has a brain injury. Kimberly is dead. No one in his life could possibly understand…Until Marley. Marley is suffering from her own loss, a loss she thinks was her fault. As Kyle’s and Marley’s feelings for each other grow stronger, Kyle can’t shake the sense that he’s headed for another crashing moment, just as soon as he’s started to put his life back together. And he’s right…”

What is the book about?

Kyle and Kimberly are the perfect couple. A jock and a cheerleader. The couple everyone wants to be. At least, that's what Kyle thinks. He thinks Kim is the one and he never wants to let her go. So when she tells him that it's time they go their separate ways, he doesn't know what to do. Angry and desperate, Kyle tries to show Kim exactly how much he loves her, but then his whole world turns upside down and he finds himself in a hospital room. There was a car crash. Kim is dead. Kyle doesn't want to carry on living. Kim can't so why should he. He doesn't think anyone could possibly understand what he is going through. Until he meets Marley. Marley isn't like all the other girls Kyle has known. But she understands. She knows. Marley has gone suffered her own sad story, he own loss, one she feels responsible for. As Kyle begins to put back together the pieces of his messed up life, his and Marley's feelings for each other grow, and Kyle can't shake the feeling that something is about to go wrong. That everything is too perfect. And he's right. How far will Kyle go to save the girl he has come to love? And will it be enough? Can Kyle and Marley really find love after losing everything?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I had just finished Five Feet Apart and was really for another heart-breaking experience. I really don't understand why I put myself through these books but here I am reviewing another beautiful, sad book that I don't think I will ever forget. One thing that made me think of buying All This Time was the cover. The covers of Five Feet Apart and All This Time had both been absolutely gorgeous and magical when I first saw them and, obviously, I immediately wanted to buy them. The blurb was also amazing and as soon as I read it I was already anxious to find out more about Kyle's life and the mysterious Marley. When I began to read I was immediately captivated by Kyle and Marley's world and I felt like I was really there with them. The book was quick to start and soon I was already in tears and on the edge of my seat waiting for the next disaster to strike. Even in just the first few chapters, the book had already left me with a rollercoaster of emotions: crying one minute and laughing the next. I enjoyed every minute of All This Time and it was almost as it I was simply absorbing the story into me; I know this book will always be a part of me and I don't think I will ever forget it. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was undoubtedly Marley. She was probably the strangest character in the series, but I always like the strange ones. The first thing that stood out about her was her love for stories. Now, when I'm reading a book, the second I see a character that likes to read or enjoys telling stories, the immediate become my favourite. So, obviously, Marley was already up by one when I learnt this about her. The second thing was how, even though she was suffering from her own life-changing loss, she helped Kyle to open up and share his experience. She might not have been ready to tell anyone about her own sad story, but she helped someone else recover a bit and she didn't push him into it. The third and final thing was that she was a really beautiful character. Not just on the outside – although Kyle sure did emphasise her looks – but also on the inside. She gave Kyle a new life when she wasn't even really living her own. She helped others when she was suffering on her own. She risked everything for others and, the saddest thing about the book was that, she did it all while believing she was responsible for her own tragic experience. She gave someone hope when she thought she couldn't ever be happy. She gave someone a new life when she wished her own would end. Marley was one of the most inspirational characters I have ever read about and I wish I could have the same effect she had on people. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

There were a lot of incredibly beautiful and amazing parts I could have chosen in the book. There were lots of sad parts and a number of happy parts. However there was one that towered over the rest: the first time Kyle and Marley met. There have been many books with many couple and many interesting introductions but I don't think any can top this one. This part pretty much sums up what Marley and Kyle thought of each other and what they were really like. The first words Marley spoke were also so beautiful: “Once upon a time there was a boy…” I will never forget her words and the everlasting effect they had on Kyle. Kyle's first thought on Marley were basically: who the hell is this girl and how in the world am I already falling in love with her. I think it's hilarious that this is how he reacts and how he sort of already knows he is falling hard for this girl. Later on in the book we discover that Marley's first thoughts were: this boy will understand. In my opinion, I think it also shows that Marley knew she was already falling in love with Kyle and that he would be the first person she would open up to. Marley was Kyle's happy place and Kyle was Marley's happy place. She would be there for him and he would be there for her. They would be there for each other. Forever. I think it is amazing that you can see when a couple is meant to be from just one scene. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, All This Time is one of the most astonishing books I have ever read. I liked everything about it and there is nothing, not even a single word that I would change. One of the things that I liked about it was its fast pace because I found it so easy to be travel back and forth between my two realities: real life and books. It was so simple to slip into Kyle and Marley's world because of how quickly things happened. I was taking in the words so quickly I was desperate to find the next sentence and soon I realised that there were no more. Another thing that I liked about the book was the rollercoaster of emotions that it took me on. I cried on 3 different occasions and laughed at multiple moments. At one point, I was so utterly shocked by what just happened, I had tears streaming down my face and repeated, 'what in the actual world just happened', for a full 10 minutes (still reading obviously). There are only a few books I can claim have made me cry more than one and I am very proud to say that this is one of them. I enjoyed the experience immensely and I was sad to see it end. One last thing that I would like to mention was the ending. Even during the very last chapter, All This Time kept me on my toes. At the end I was so anxious to read what happened next that I skipped whole paragraphs to get to the end and, in the process, ended up spoiling certain bits and almost dying from the shock. I was clutching the book so hard, even on the last page, that when I was finally ready to out down the book, I had imprints on my hands and, unfortunately, the cover was slightly bent. It was an honour to get the opportunity to read All This Time and I am really sad that the book had to come to an end. I hope to read others like it and that other people get to go through the same adventure that I did. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I 100% recommend this book, specifically for readers over 14 with a love for romance. If you are looking for a reason to cry, this is definitely a good book to try. If you want to go on a wild romantic rollercoaster, then All This Time is perfect for you. And finally, if you are looking for a magical story, then don't hesitate to pick up this book.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A sad story that will make you cry, laugh and then cry again.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

FIVE FEET APART by Rachael Lippincott with Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis

“Can you love someone you can never touch? Stella Grant likes to be in control – even though her totally out-of-control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. What Stella needs to control most is her distance from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions. The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. In one week he’ll turn eighteen, and then he’ll be able to unplug himself from all these machines and actually go see the world. Will’s exactly what Stella needs to sat away from. But now six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment. What if they could steal back just a little bit of the space their broken lungs have stolen from them? Would five feet apart really be so dangerous if it stops their hearts form breaking too?”

What is the book about?

Stella Grant and Will Newman both have cystic fibrosis, a disease that keeps them from living with the freedom most of us take for granted, but they both act in very different ways. Stella lives to be in control, even though her lungs are totally out of control. The thing she has to control the most is her distance from other CFers because one wrong move and she might find her life ending quicker than expected. Stella takes her treatments and medication seriously, giving herself more time, and most importantly her parents more time with her. Will Newman is the complete opposite. The only thing he wants is to finally get out of hospital and stop letting his messed up lungs dictate where he spends the rest of his life. Will knows it's only a matter of time before he dies and he isn't going to let anything stand in his way of actually living. Will is exactly what Stella needs to stay away from, but of course he's the one she wants. At first she doesn't understand why she is helping this boy out with his treatments and trying to keep him on this planet for longer, when clearly he doesn't care what happens to him. But soon six feet no longer feels like safety for either of them. It's a punishment. But what if they could steal back some more time and space that their broken lungs have stolen from them? Five feet apart couldn't possibly be so dangerous, if it keeps their hearts from breaking too…

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Five Feet Apart had been on my never-ending list of books to buy for quite some time and when I finally got it for my birthday, I was ecstatic to begin. There was a lot that made the book stand out to me. For one, the book cover was beautiful and made me think that maybe the book would be wonderful too. The blurb was also very interesting and I really wanted to see how Stella and Will's love story turned out. One last thing that convinced me to try the book was the amount of incredible review and comments on it, and once I started reading it I completely agreed with them all. The start was amazing and the story flowed really well. I was in love with the book from the very beginning and I cannot believe how quickly it ended. It was very fast-paced from the very first page and I soon reached its end, regretting how quickly I read it and wishing to forget it all so I could experience it all over again. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was probably Stella because of how in control she was. I think her control over her medications reminded me of how I like to be in control and to have everything as close to perfection as possible. I liked seeing how brave she was and how she coped with not being able to control her lungs. She wanted to keep living not just for herself, but for her parents. She saw how she kept them sane and if they lost her, they probably would even be able to take care of themselves. One of the best things about Stella was how she helped Will and wanted to keep him alive, even though she knew she was risking her own life to do it. She was willing to risk her chance for more time all for him, and didn’t regret her decision for a second. This was one thing that made me see that she wasn’t just a control freak, but that she actually cared about other people and wanted others to get the same opportunity she had; she wanted them to live. Stella learnt a lot from Will, but she also taught him a lot and gave him the chance to give his medical treatments another try and to actually attempt to live for longer than most people thought he would. Stella gave him hope. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

The book had a lot of good parts, some sad and others happy, and I enjoyed every single one. However, one that I enjoyed above all else was Will’s birthday surprise. I can’t say much about it because it is a surprise but there was a lot about it that made me choose it as my favourite. One thing about it was that Will had never really had any opportunities to have fun and just relax, as he had spent his whole live moving from hospital to hospital. I liked that he got to celebrate his birthday properly and that at least he would now have a happy memory in a hospital. Another thing that I liked was how much was risked to give Will a good birthday and how the others didn’t hesitate, even though there was a lot to lose. The moment didn’t last very long but it was a short amount of time where they were happy and where their disease didn’t dictate how they celebrated and who they celebrated with. It was one of the rare happy moments in the book, but it was one of the happiest.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall Five Feet Apart was absolutely incredible and there is nothing that I could change to make it any better. One thing that I really liked about the book was that it was written from 2 perspectives. I really loved hearing both Stella and Will’s points of view and getting to see both their reactions to certain things. It was funny to see how they reacted differently to certain things but also how they both kind of denied their feelings for the other. It was very cute to see how they both coped with having to be apart and to see how they both helped the other change and become a better person. Neither of them would have been the person they were at the end of the book without the others help and I really enjoyed getting the chance to see that. The last thing I would like to mention is the ending which I both liked and disliked. The thing that I liked about it was that it was probably the safest and best way to end the book and it left me with hope that Will and Stella would be able to find their happy endings. I liked that it skipped to 8 months later as I was able to see how they were doing and if they were really living their lives as they had wanted. What I didn’t like about the ending was that it left me wanting more and left me feeling empty. I wanted a lot more for Will and Stella and, even though I knew it wasn’t possible, I wish the book could have ended a little differently. The ending was both sad and happy and, as a whole, the book was incredible.

Would you recommend this book?  

I definitely recommend this book, particularly for readers over 14. It is a really incredible book and if you enjoy impossible romance then this is certainly the book for you. I know that anyone who picks up this book is sure to enjoy it and end up in tears.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A magical, impossible romance from five feet apart.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by Jennifer Niven

“Theodore Finch wants to take his own life. Violet Markey is devastated by her sister’s death. They meet on the ledge of the school bell tower, and so their story begins. It’s only together they can be themselves… But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink. How far will Violet go to save the boy she has come to love?”

What is the book about?

Theodore Finch wants to take his own life. He spends most of his life worried about the Asleep and the other part experiencing it. Violet Markey has a normal, perfect life until her sister’s death changed everything and made her revisit her thoughts on life. They meet on the ledge of the school bell tower both considering the same thing and wondering what would happen if they jumped. Together, they manage to get down and carry on with their lives, but now they are connected and their story begins. They both feel that life is not what it should be, that they should be able to be happy and feel free all the time, but it’s only when they are together that they can be their true selves. Violet spent the time after her sister’s death being cautions and fading into the background almost as if her life had stopped, but Finch is the opposite and he thrives in making himself seen and showing the world that he is a part of it. Violet has never met anyone like Finch and she begins to see that just because she is alive and her sister isn’t doesn’t mean that she isn’t allowed to live. But as Finch helps Violet’s world grow, his own begins to shrink. He starts to change and it’s almost like he isn’t present at times. Violet must make a choice and she must find a way to save him, but how far will she go and how much is she willing to do for the boy she has come to love? Violet has already lost one person she loved and she doesn’t want to make it two. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Most books that I liked to read where mystery and adventure, fictional books that bring magic to life. But when I started this blog I wanted to try out as many new genres as I could and I also wanted to read books with more important meanings. All the Bright Places was one of the books that had caught my eye when I was looking for young adult fiction books. I had really enjoyed reading The Fault in Our Stars and All the Bright Places was suggested for readers who liked it, so I thought I would try it out. I have always found that most the books I liked were too unrealistic and made me have rather high and strange expectations for real life, but All the Bright Places was a story that, even though it was fictional, still gave a realistic view on life and how not all stories end happily. The blurb made me even more intrigued and I was very interested in learning how someone who wants to die teaches someone else how to live. The book started really well and I was already hooked from the very first sentence: “Is today a good day to die?” I found that every page was more interesting than the last and I was ready for anything. I quickly found myself at the end of the book, and now I partly wish that it had never finished. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was definitely Theodore Finch. Violet was also a great character, but Finch was the one who made her life better and, even though she also did this for him, he was able to show her that she didn’t have to stop living just because her sister died. Finch was a rather odd character and he acted kind of crazy at times. One of the best things about him was that he saw the good things in life a lot better than others and was able to see the beauty in the world clearer than Violet did. When Violet visited somewhere that wasn’t relatively nice she told herself to look at it through Finch’s eyes and then everything became beautiful and magical. Although he had suicidal thoughts and always researched and considered different ways to die, he was still a really good and even inspiration character because of how he lived life to the full, as if every day was his last day. The strange thing about him wanting to die was that, despite how horrible his day, he always found something good to use as a reason to stay alive, no matter how small it was. There is one thing that makes me rethink my choice of Finch as my favourite characters, but there was so much good in him, that it is easy to ignore. Finch had his own problems and he struggled to stay present in the world, but he was still able to show Violet that she shouldn’t give up on life just because she is alive and her sister is not. It seems weird that a boy who wants to die is able to show someone how to live, but Finch had a really deep understanding on living and how you have to let go of your fears to be able to enjoy your time on Earth. He gave Violet an experience that she will never forget and he changed lots of people by just being himself. He was present for those he loved even when they barely payed any attention to him and didn’t acknowledge that he had a problem. Finch gave me, as a reader, a realistic view on what it’s like to be a teenager that is bullied, has problems of their own and sometimes thinks that life would be better if they had never existed. He might have been real, but he made some wrong choices and even though it is normal to make mistakes, it is important to see that sometimes a different path is better. 

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

There were a lot of good parts in All the Bright Places and a few bad, but there was one part that I remember really well and really enjoyed. This is the part when Violet and Finch were on top of Purina Tower and Finch mentions the Jovian – Plutonian effect. At first I was a bit confused at what he was saying and why he was discussing something so strange, but once he explained himself I knew that it was one of the sweetest, nicest things ever. It was like Finch declaring he loved Violet without saying those 3 special but simple words. Although he had already said “I love you”, hearing how he put his thoughts into words and managed to describe what Violet made him feel like so perfectly was one of the most beautiful and romantic things ever. It seems impossible to be able to explain just how much you love someone, but he made the most accurate description ever with just one simple thing. It might have been weird, but it showed Violet the true Finch and how he felt about her. They knew they were in love, but this gave them something special just for them that would explain their feelings without saying the words that so many people use to express themselves. The scene was perfect and, in a book that is meant to be realistic, this showed me that there are times when life is good and when it feels like you are living in a fairy tale, but you have to suffer to get the good or you will never appreciate those moments and you will miss them when they come. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, All the Bright Places was a really incredible book and there was a lot that I loved about it. The number one thing that made me love the book was how realistic it was. The characters were real, the story was real, but it was all fictional. When a fictional book is real, it’s one of the most wonderful things ever. I really liked how some of the things that Finch and Violet said and thought were really relatable and put some of the things that go though most teenagers minds into words. I really enjoyed how it showed both sides of death: what it’s like to want to die, and what it’s like to have someone you love die. All the Bright Places was just such a meaningful and realistic book that showed me that even in fictional stories you have to feel pain to get to the happy parts, and even after that life has a way of making things worse even after you have hit rock bottom. Another thing that I enjoyed about the book was the amazing writing. There were so many beautiful quotes that put things that are hard to express into words. Every page there was something wonderful to read, even in the sad parts, and every word made me love the book even more. I have read lots of books with really amazing quotes, and this All the Bright Places is one that I will never forget. One other thing that surprised me about the book was how, even though it was supposedly a very sad book, it made me laugh. So many parts of the book had funny moments and strange thoughts that made me smile. There might have been a lot of sadness but the funny and sweet parts made up for it and showed that sometimes you have to laugh through the pain and see the good things in life rather than just the bad. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I really enjoyed reading All the Bright Places and I recommend you read it. I think it is best for readers 14 and over, but if you think you are ready to see the truth about life and how it isn’t all good then I definitely suggest you read it. 

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A story full of love, laughs and tears that will give you a new definition of life and change your world. 

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

“Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.”

What is the book about?

Hazel has known her whole live that, despite all the drugs and the small miracle that has bought her a few more years; she will never survive her cancer. She has mainly spent her time so far either at school or at home and doesn’t have much of a social life, but what’s the point if she is just going to die anyway. Hazel is sure that she will never find the incredible true love that is always described in movies and books, but when she meets a gorgeous, smart, funny Augustus Waters at Cancer Kid Support Group her whole world is completely turned around. Maybe there is a chance for her to have a happily ever after, even if it is just happily after.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

The Fault in Our Stars was always a book that I had vaguely heard about but was never that interested in reading it, but that was only because I had never actually looked at what it was about. A little while ago I had a look at a list of some popular books for teenagers and The Fault in Our Stars was on that list. I immediately started looking at the book online and was sure that I would like it. Unfortunately, a few months before reading the book I read a spoiler which really annoyed me but did not discourage me from trying the book. Once I picked up the book (after it being on my shelf for several weeks) I read the blurb, which reminded me why I wanted to read the book in the first place, and started to read. As soon as I began to read, I automatically wondered why I had ever left The Fault in Our Stars on the shelf for that long and started to really doubt my choices on when to read books. Even though the start wasn’t exactly the most exiting few chapters, I still absolutely loved every word and before I knew it I was almost nearing the end of the book. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was definitely Augustus because of how sweet and funny he was. I loved how he saw the world and all his metaphorical thoughts. There were many times where I found what Augustus was saying extremely puzzling and that was one of the things that I really like about him. He always spoke in a way that made whatever he was saying, even if it were something simple, sound like it was the most amazing and complicated thing in the world. He was also incredibly good-looking which certainly made him one of the top characters in the book. I also really liked Augustus because even though he knew what was coming, he stayed positive and didn’t make the people around him feel miserable. I also liked how he helped Hazel and showed her that even she was capable of having her own little infinity and even though she might not live as long as other people she could still be happy. He made her feel special just like every girl wishes that someone would make her happy and he showed her how to make the most of every second because one day that will be the last second you have left.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

I found it very difficult to choose a favourite part and in the end I have ended up with two: the meal at Oranjee or Augustus and Hazel’s first kiss. I loved Augustus and Hazel’s date at Oranjee (a restaurant) because I think it is when Hazel realises that she really does love Augustus and that she needs to stop keeping herself away from him. I like that they get a chance to know each other more and have a really special moment just the 2 of them. I also chose Augustus and Hazel’s first kiss as my other favourite part because, although I think that Hazel begins to loosen up around Augustus at Oranjee, this is really when she accepts the fact that they love each other and that, even though she feels that getting close to each other will only cause them more pain, it’s better to have a few really good moments than live a life full of regret. I also like this moment because I was getting rather frustrated at Hazel because I could see that she and Augustus were perfect for each other but she was keeping her distance not wanting to start something that would eventually lead to one of them getting hurt. Both of these moment show how Augustus helped Hazel see that she was capable of having happiness and that it was worth having an amazing time even if it would mean that eventually someone would be hurt because, in practically everything in life, someone gets hurt.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, The Fault in Our Stars was an absolutely extraordinary book and I loved it. One of the things that I loved about the book was how many new words I learnt. Although it was annoying to have to keep a dictionary handy, it was also really nice to learn some new words and how to put them properly into context. Another thing that I loved about the book was how much it made me smile, and sometimes even laugh. There were so many funny moments in the book and I loved reading them because I got a chance to really be with the characters. The Fault in Our Stars also made me cry but, even though it was sad, I also really like those parts because I knew that it was a good book and that it had been worth reading it. If a book makes you feel something then it is a good book (unless all you are feeling is absolute boredom and hatred for the book). The best about The Fault in Our Stars, in my opinion, was that you open a random page in the book and you can find the most beautiful things like “It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you”, or “That's the thing about pain, it demands to be felt.” Its quotes as beautiful as these that made the book one of the most incredible ones I have read because of how they make you think about everything and really make you feel something. I undeniably loved every single second of reading The Fault in Our Stars and I wouldn’t trade the memory of this book for anything (well, except maybe more books).

Would you recommend this book?  

I 100% recommend this book for readers over 14 who enjoy romance with a pinch of drama. If you have not yet read it and are not sure what to read next I think that The Fault in Our Stars would be a wonderful choice and I think that it will completely change the way you look at life.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A beautiful but tragic love story that will make you cry.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego