Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: September 1st, 2015
Edition: ARC Pages: 307
Acquired: received through local bookstore
Purchase: Book Depository

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars) 

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my 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. (book synopsis from goodreads)

MY THOUGHTS

OH MY WORD! This book! It had me laughing, it had me “aww” ing, and most importantly it had me riveted to my seat! I read this book in the matter of a few hours!

Madeline has an immune disease that makes it impossible for her to leave her house for fear that she might come in contact with one of her triggers that could very well kill her, and though she has learned to be tolerant and zen about it she still yearns for the outside world. This yearning is turned into overdrive when Olly moves in next door and nothing is the same afterward.

Half way through the book I was thinking “aw this book is so cute” Maddy and Olly’s relationship magnifies in front of your eyes and you can’t help but to be completely engrossed in the entire thing. It is almost like you are seeing the world for the first time just like Maddy. Maddy’s condition has had her locked in her house with only books to comfort her and to give her the adventure she couldn’t experience otherwise. If you are bookish you will relate with Maddy on a very emotional level. 

Maddy is so innocent and sassy and you get a really good fell for this throughout the novel in the instant messages, drawings, book spoilers, and personal dictionary entries. Yes, the romance is a bit insta-lovey but honestly it really fits Maddy’s character. This book has it’s inconsistencies but I think it is intentional because Maddy is our narrator and her perspective is completely different from what we would perceive as outsiders. I also wish we got a better understanding of what SCID is and why everything had to be white and what triggers Maddy has. Again, I think this is somewhat due to Maddy’s narration and the way her perspective is presented to the reader.

After you get over the cuteness you realize this book has a much deeper connotation to it and WHOA! I’m not usually one to talk about a plot twist but this book has a particularly fantastic one and was in a very interesting direction. This book took me by surprise and I loved every second of it!

MUCH RECOMMEND

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA lit! Everything, Everything is wonderfully written and was so much more than I expected! Also this book could definitely satisfy anyone who is on a diverse book kick because this book confronts illness and Maddy is multiracial. This book seems like it will be one that will have some mixed reviews (it already does) but I really think that everyone that is intrigued by the synopsis should read the story because it will throw you through a loop and draw you in to Maddy’s life. Please pick this book up and give it a go!