I’ve been waiting for Holding Up the Universe for BASICALLY 74 YEARS.
Give or take, like, a few years…but it feels forever since I had my fragile and delicate destroyed by Jennifer Niven’s All The Bright Places (which coincidentally is one of my top favourited reviews on Goodreads with 400+ likes!) and I was SO READY FOR THIS NEW BOOK!
I’ll be honest: I don’t think it’s as good as ATBP. But it’s a different story, a different feel, and a different message. I don’t want to compare them too much! (I mean, it’s BAD ENOUGH that this poor book has that horrible permanent sticker on the front cover reminding it of its older sibling’s success while it is yet a new hatchling…poor dear.) All you need to know is: (A) I thoroughly enjoyed this, (B) even if I do have a few twitchy qualms, and (C) I am not destroyed! Yay!
HAHAHAH JUST KIDDING. THERE IS MUCH MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW. Read on, dear Algernon. We have much to discuss.
(And OBVIOUSLY this review will have no spoilers. But since it’s such a highly anticipated book across the blogosphere, I figured I should put that disclaimer.)
I loved the message of being seen and finding self-worth.
Doesn’t everyone feel invisible and unwanted on occasion?? So this should resonate with basically 97% of everybody. Bless it. The story is equal parts about Libby (who is known as the “fattest teen in America”) and Jack (who has prosopagnosia, aka face blindness and recognises NOBODY). I adored their dual-narration and I loooooved their story line. NO BORING MOMENTS. Perfect pacing. And Jennifer Niven’s writing is A GIFT TO HUMANKIND ACROSS THE GALAXIES. Her writing always makes me feeeeel all the things.
And the characters? BE STILL MY RAPIDLY BEATING HEART BECAUSE: JACK.
HE IS A PRECIOUS CINNAMON ROLL OF BAD DECISIONS. Seriously, such bad decisions. Stahp, Jack. He has prosopagnosia, which is face-blindness, which is actually a disability I’ve researched a lot and am quite interested about. I really felt for Jack. He doesn’t want anyone to know he can’t recognise faces, so he compensates by being “untouchable” like nothing and no one can hurt him with all his swagger. Plus I relate hugely to him, not because I have prosopagnosia, but just because I relate to (A) Jack having social anxiety, and (B) when he walks into a room he can’t recognise people so it’s basically like being surrounded by strangers all the time, and I struggle to read faces so Jack’s drowning feeling of “WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, WHAT DO THEY THINK, WHAT’S GOING ON” was relatable to me and so so so well written.
Plus Jack has SWAGGER and an afro that he calls his LION’S MANE and the dude is just downright #FABULOUS.
DUUUUUUDE.
Buuuut…I struggled to care about Libby.
She has a very self-righteous attitude and she makes DUMB DECISIONS TOO…but Jack is 100% aware of his, while Libby just denies/justifies hers. How is this fair??? It is not??? Jack and Libby BOTH assume people are going to make their lives hellish (#socialanxiety) but Libby deals with it by ALWAYS assuming the worst of people…even when they’ve done nothing but be nice to her. Ask first. Accuse later, maybe?? But HEY! Libby was seriously brave and intent on spreading messages of self-love and her sassy clap-backs to bullies were AMAZING.
BRIEF LIST OF OTHER THINGS I LOVED
- SUPERNATURAL REFERENCES!! Which gives me life, honestly.
- There is so much dancing. DANCING. The only time I’ve ever danced in my life is when I walked through a spider web, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it. They rocked the dancing here.
- So much diversity! Of size, ethnicity (Jack is biracial), mental illnesses, and disabilitites.
- #HAIRAPPRECIATION. I’m not even sorry. I have a deep love of fabulous hair.
- Hate to love romance. My FAVOURITE romance trope.
- I HAD AN EMOTION. I actually got totally squished with emotions. At one stage it was SO INSUFFERABLY CUTE that I had to stop reading and just squee. Also there are times when I had to stop reading and HOWL.
BRIEF LIST OF DISLIKES, UNFORTUNATELY
- Well, Libby. Which I feel bad about, but seriously…sometimes I didn’t feel like shipping them?
- Not really sure what everyone’s motivations where. Like why wouldn’t Jack tell his parents he was face-blind?? His family was having Big Issues, but STILL. And why wouldn’t Libby go to the principal when she was bullied? She told another girl to go to the principal for being bullied??? And why would Libby BULLY HERSELF and then turn around and speak about self-worth? She legit wrote nasty things about herself in the bathroom. I just…I don’t…understand???
- Sometimes Jack’s face-blindness didn’t make sense. For instance, he can’t recognise his family’s faces. Yes. But he kept saying things like “the man I assume is my father walks into the room” WHICH MAKES NO SENSE. I can freaking tell which member of my family is coming down the stairs without seeing them. He has “identifiers” like hair and weight and voices and physical features like sticking-out-ears…so it seemed silly that he KEPT underlining he couldn’t recognise his family.
I’M HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE, YES.
This book is still a precious little universe * of wonder and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.
Sure I had quibbles, but I love love loved it and I just wanted to stay devouring it forever. Jack and his precious #FABULOUSNESS rates as one of my top-favourite-contemporary-boys. And any book that wants to talk about self worth is DOING GOOD IN THIS WORLD, THANK YOU. It hit me in the feels several times and just…HOLD ME. ** I love this book.
* See what I did there? HUH? HUH? GET IT?
** And see what I did there? I’m on a title pun ROLL right now, go me.
THANK YOU TO PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven was published October, 2016.
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for every possibility life has to offer. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.
Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.
\\ click to read reviews //
I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR REVIEW and, one word, YES.
YES TO ALL THE THINGS.
I’ve got my copy and started it a little while ago and feel the same way as you, so far.
And Jennifer Niven is EVERYTHING. GAH. I love her writing so much and Finch? Finch from ATBP is just beautiful. AND HE HAS GREAT HAIR TOO.
As for shipping,I dont think I ship Liby and Jack (don’t kill me) but myself and Jack= totally a thing.
Lovely review Cait and your pictures here are amazing! *nods*
(But no cake? No gifs? Who are you???)
FAJDSKLAD I’M GLAD WE ARE TWINNING HERE. <3 Aaaall the emotions omg. I cannot believe how sucked into the writing I get though. Like usually I'm okay to put books down and do other important life things (like eat) but this time I was all "just one more page...ONE MORE PAGE". And the chapters are so short I'd end up reading half the book over one more page. NO REGRETS.
But Kat, c'mon. I have a gif in there? FABULOUS JON SNOW'S HAIR?? Tomorrow's post will not only fulfil the cake quota....it will explode it.😱😂
I’m so glad you like Holding Up The Universe! Personally I kinda hated AtBP so I thought I’d skip this one, but your review sounds really convincing! AND OMG YUSH HAIR. Hair is so UNDERDESCRIBED (google says that’s not a word but I be a #rebel) in books, like it’s all just ‘she had long hair the colour of candlelight soaked through muslin’ and I be like ‘but what’s the TEXTURE? Is it fine? Is it thick? Is there lots of it? Is she partially bald? TELL ME YOU IMBECILE AUTHOR’ and then I just give up. Meep. So #hairappreciation. Great post, Cait!
HAIR IS EVERYTHING THO. I HAVE SUCH AN OBSESSION WITH GLORIOUS HAIR. This is like 98% of the reason I watch movies (like I’d always rather be reading) but hair is just so much fabulousness in movies. Case in point: Jon Precious Snow.
AAAHH!! To be honest, I don’t actually keep up with new releases so I hadn’t known about this book until very recently. Cannot wait to read it! Based on your review, I know I’ll like it a lot, though. Hate to love romance is my favorite trope too!
I’ve read ATBP and it wrecked me.
Also, those flowers look beautiful and fit perfectly with the covers!
ATBP wrecked the entire PLANET I’m sure of it. Omg so beautiful. I’m due for a re-read because the pain isn’t fresh enough.💔
And eeep, thank you! I was so happy when the flowers matched the cover.😂
Great review, Cait!! I haven’t read All the bright places or Holding up the universe, BUT THIS COVER IS GORGEOUS. This has happened to me a lot of times like I dont like Ginny Weasley or Jace or Meira from Snow like ashes, which prevents me from shipping them with other characters that I love.😂 WE NEED MORE HAIR APPRECIATION, DON’T YA THINK TOO???
Omggg you don’t ship Ginny and Harry?! BECAUSE NEITHER DO IT.😂 And my ship totally sunk in Snow Like Ashes, it was very depressing. *cries piteously for self* Honestly if I don’t ship the ship, my opinion of the book generally goes down. I’m apparently more of a romantic than I thought.😂
SO MUCH MORE HAIR APPRECIATION IS NEEDED, OMG, I AGREE.
Jack was definitely the standout in this book although it’s been so long since we read it that we’re not even sure how we feel about everything else😐
.
This review was funny as your posts always are and we’d like to leave a longer comment, but we’ve just woken up😑😂
Eeek, I understand about forgetting things you read! I GET THAT TOO.😂 I just read this on the weekend though, so it’s still aaall in my mind and Jack is my darling. <3
I appreciate any kind of comment! THANK YOU!
HI CAIT. Sorry, I went hiking for a week and didn’t have internet and I MISSED YOU DREADFULLY. I listened to the audiobook of ATBP over approximately 6 months and consequtnely didn’t really see the big picture of plot? But this sounds very good to read so maybe I’ll give it a go after I get through ALL THE OTHER BOOKS. (there are a lot of them). I love good fictional hair almost as much as I love good irl hair (I have a friend who has long hair and he gave me a hairflip for my birthday, awww). I can get on board with a ship as long as I feel the character dynamic is true to BOTH characters… you know?
I THOUGHT YOU MUST’VE MOVED TO JUPITER OR SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU WERE SO GONE.😱 I’m glad you’re back!! *gives you welcome back cake* But dude, haaaair. Hair is amazing and you clearly have amazing friends who appreciate amazing hair too (yeah I’m just going to keep saying AMAZING until I annoy even myself :’) MORE BOOKS NEED HAIR APPRECIATION!!
I loved this book so much!! The characters were adorable and the story so empowering, I did love Libby more than Jack though
There should be more books like this one!
My review of this book: https://imaginaryplacesonpaper.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/review-of-holding-up-the-universe/
IT IS SO GOOD. I’M GLAD WE’RE IN AGREEMENT!! 🎉🎉
AHHH THIS WAS MY MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR. I read ATBP last year, and adored it, (it’s my second all time favourite book of eternity) AND I WAS SO EXCITED WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS BOOK AND I’M SO GLAD YOU LOVED IT. So many people have been hating on this book for no reason, and it really makes me mad. People were rating it 1 star as soon as it was announced!! Like seriously, calm the frick down people, and read the book before you rate it.
I haven’t been able to read Holding Up The Universe yet, but I’M DYING TO AND ARGH I NEED IT. But I’m reading 3 books right now, and I’m kinda dying lol, so it’ll have to wait.
Ugh I’m so mad that it got so much hate when it was first announced. But I think this is just a thing for author’s who do really well, right?!? Like anytime John Green even sneezes, he’s absolutely criticised for everything, and ATBP did soooo well that I imagine it’s got a truckload of stupid haters. *sighs* IT’S NOT FAIR!! I get so mad that people rate books without reading them!! For me, like ATBP will always be the best (*continues crying but still loves it*) but this was a solid follow up!! SO I AM PLEASED.
I haven’t tried a Jennifer Niven book yet, but it sounds like I’ll have to now! I mean, how can I resist Supernatural references! 🙂
EXACTLY. Any book that wants to discuss Supernatural = immediately my kind of book.😂
Hold up, though. Because isn’t prosopagnosia the disease that Finn has in Bone Gap? Or something similar? I don’t mean to be THAT person, but isn’t it a little fishy for two young adult romances published so close together to feature the same obscure illness?
Also, seriously, Cait, are you a Jedi? Your bookstagram picture is leading me to believe that you are actually a Jedi. I am in awe.
Haaaa, okay, so I wanted to mention Bone Gap in this review, but since that’s like a plot twist I decided I wouldn’t do it in case of spoilers!😂 And no I don’t think it’s fishy at all! Knowing how long it takes to get published (literally…years…it wouldn’t be unusual for Bone Gap and/or Holding Up the Universe to both have been in the works for years before we even heard of them) there is pretty much no chance anyone copied here. Plus prosopagnosia is rare, but not as rare as we think! It’s great it’s coming to light! *whispers* It’s not a disease, it’s a disability.
ALSO THANK YOU, I AM VERY PLEASED YOU LIKE THESE PHOTOS. I’m just flailing because my flower props MATCHED. Like so much win here omg.😂
You’re so right. I didn’t take into account the publishing gap. Which, duh, I should have. Because I know this stuff.
And, gah, I feel so insinsative for mislabeling it. I should have looked it up. Thank you for correcting me. 🙂
These ARE the only two books I’ve ever read that deals with face-blindness though! So I do understand why one might think it was fishy at first.😜
‘HE IS A PRECIOUS CINNAMON ROLL OF BAD DECISIONS’ I roared! I think I laughed so hard I started crying. The funniest thing I have ever read. Anywho… I am dying to read this book. I loved All the Bright Places- it broke my heart- literally destroyed me, and I was worried it was going to do that again. But I am glad to see that maybe it won’t. I am curious about Libby’s character, what you described sounds like a major defense mechanism- But, I suppose I’ll have to read and see.
Thanks for the review!
OMG THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY.😂 Also YES DO GO READ IT!! I mean, we probably need a support group for ATBP, right, though?!? I’m still crying about it. *howls*
I haven’t read any Jennifer Niven books, but everyone keeps telling me I should XD That Jon Snow GIF is epic lol. Amazing review, as always <3
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Aww, thankyou!! and YES you so so should try a Niven book someday!! I will give you cake if you do. 😉 (Now that’s awesome motivation hahhaa… ahem.) JON SNOW’S HAIR THO = <3
Okay, you’ve sold it! This sounds amazing and now I need to go to the bookstore. WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?? This is why I’m broke (besides my love of coffee, and being a college student, and having to pay millions of dollars for gas).
Elizabeth
http://whimsicalthoughtss.blogspot.com/
BECAUSE I LIVE TO GROW YOUR TBR SO TALL THAT IT THREATENS TO FALL ON YOUR HEAD. I am so kind. You’re super welcome. :’)
I’ve read quite a few books where I liked one character but not the other. It often happens in YA (for me, anyway) when the love interest is a far more interesting character than the bland and boring MC. I think sometimes the author concentrates a little too much on making the love interest swoon-worthy, to the detriment of the MC’s development.
I haven’t read any of this author’s books. This one sounds a little uneven to me; I’m not sure I’d like it. The face-blindness thing would probably get to me. I mean, we use more than facial recognition to identify people. Aside from all the other visual cues (like how someone walks, the gestures they use, any unusual features they might have), there are things like their voice, and even their smell. Unless face-blindness knocks all those out of commission, too, I don’t know how someone couldn’t recognize their own family members… never mind hide it!
And sometimes being in the MC’s head makes them…oh I don’t even know what it is?!? But like it’s harder to like them for some reason?! It’s almost like the bit of distance between us vs the love interest helps us to like them better. OR SOMETHING. I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT.😜 But I do agree with what you said!
Face-blindness is definitely a real thing, though, and know someone with a mild case. I think maybe the family-aspect in this was slightly exaggerated, but everything else was on point. There was one part where Jack went to a birthday party to pick up his little brother and he couldn’t pick him out of a crowd of kids all the same height/wearing similar style clothes. THAT was so realistic it made my heart hurt.💔
I am so happy to read your review on this one! I read another blogger’s review and they were pretty negative {bringing up many of the same things you did}, it scared me. But after reading your review, mentioning the same issues, but still LOVING the book, I am once again happy and lusting for this one! ATBP is one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year and I have been longing for more Jennifer Niven.
YAYYYY I’M GLAD IT WAS A HELPFUL REVIEW FOR YOU! I guess it’s all about perspective, right?! And expectations a bit, too.😜 I think I’m doomed to love Jennifer Niven books because the way she writes is AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT. I do think it wasn’t exactly what I expected, but still so so much love. I hope you like it too!
…And I STILL haven’t read All the Bright Places…
With the bullying thing, I think I understand how somebody could not go to the principal about their own bully whilst advising someone else to go about theirs. You know it’s the right way to deal with it, but there’s all the self-doubt that comes with the idea of telling someone. What if they don’t believe me? What if they think I’m just overreacting? What if it makes things worse? Encouraging someone else to go is far easier.
If you hate one half of the couple, you HAVE TO hate the couple. I mean, the character you don’t want to drop into the nearest volcano can OBVIOUSLY do so much better. 😉
That is actually super true *nods* It’s like telling people to look after themselves but then not really taking care of your ownself. So I do agree that the psychology behind it makes sense! I just guess it’s hard to read a bit? I don’t understand her writing horrible messages on the bathroom wall to herself though.😳
I have never read a book by this author. I kept seeing ad’s for this book on Goodreads but I never checked it out or knew what it is about. I might check it out. I do have an appreciation for hair. Not afro’s though, my brother has one and he treats it like a god, I don’t like them that much now. I do love cool colored hair. In The Young Elites series by Marie Lu, she is so good at describing hair. One time I saw somewhere and she said that she loves to write about the hair. AND SHE IS SOOOO GOOD! Oh, and yes about the shipping. I remember in the Frost Like Night by Sara Raasch, I was completly fine with Meira, but Theron got on my nerves. He could not keep a secret to save his life. Have you read the Snow Like Ashes series? Have you read The Young Elites Series? The Young Elites series is sooooooo goooooooooooood!!!!
You will probably be annoyed with Jack’s afro then, bahahah,😂 Because he is so proud of it, it’s hilarious. And omg I DON’T KNOW….I just have a severe hair appreciation thing going on. Like if someone wants to discuss a movie with me, I will only talk 90% about their hair. It’s a problem, tbh.
Oh eternally love for authors who include epic hair, THAT IS ALL I CAN SAY.😍
I totally don’t like any of the ships for the Snow Like Ashes series anymore…I used to like Theron/Meira…but then what even happened?!? Theron turned into a total jerk. Ugh. I haven’t read Frost Like Night yet, but I’ve got it on reserve at the library. Expectations are, unfortunately, loooow though. *SIGH* (I really love the setting with all the seasons though!!)
I am so glad to hear you enjoyed this one! I didn’t really like ATBP (I know, shame upon me), but I really want to try this one. It seems a lot more like my thing than ATBP, and the cover is equally pretty too, which is 1000000% a bonus. It seems cute and fun, which is sometimes just what you need! Lovely review! (Also, I absolutely ADORE your photos of this book. Um it goes so well with flowers what?)
Aww, that’s okay! I actually know a lot of people that didn’t love ATBP, but that’s fine because not every book works for everyone, right?!😜 And YES it’s a lot lighter than ATBP which, I mean, I wasn’t expecting, but I still loved. It dealt with still heavy topics but I didn’t end up a blubbing mess.😂 THANK YOU, AUTHOR. hahhah. And omg YES I was totally winning for flower + book colour coordination there, right?!?😂
Hi Cait I’m new and I was wondering if you have read Wonder by Rj Pallicco?
Hi Emerson!! Welcome to my blog! It’s really nice to have you here.😊 Also YES, I have read Wonder and I thought it was amazing. Did you like it?
Aaah, Cait! Love this review! I actually loved both Libby and Jack, but in All the Bright Places, I wasn’t as big a fan as Violet. I wouldn’t say I didn’t ship her and Finch, but Finch was everything, and Violet was not.
But yesss, I loved this book! I love Jennifer Niven! I would love to just sit and chat with her and get inside her head, because I’m sure knowing all those stories before they’re written would be completely wonderful! Niven has so much talent, and she makes me feel SO MUCH! I am completely in love with her writing. Looooooove!
ALSO:
“This book is still a precious little universe * of wonder and I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.” – Cait, if you couldn’t put it down… doesn’t that technically mean… YOU WERE HOLDING IT UP?! Two puns in one sentence! That is wonderful work, Cait. I’m impressed! 🙂
I actually desperately want to re-read ATBP because I read it about 6 months pre-release (on accident *facepalm* because I don’t generally read books so early…but hey, at least I didn’t see spoilers😂) AND I NEED TO EXPERIENCE THE
TRAUMABRILLIANCE AGAIN. I can’t actually remember much of Violet because I was too busy loving Finch. Ahem.Jennifer Niven always seems SO SO NICE TOO…like from stories I’ve heard from bloggers meeting her and the videos she does and stuff. It woudl be so nice to meet her. <3
DUDE, TWO PUNS IN ONE! #winning I totally meant to do that. Of course. Naturally. Definitely on purpose there. 😉 😂
never read the first book but I heard it was amazing. Sorry you didn’t like Libby. I do like the diversity in the book.
YES! It’s so nice to read amazingly diverse books that do it all accurately and well. *hugs book*
I love the idea of this! Not being able to recognize faces would be terrible. Also social anxiety and bad choices. I relate. Plus hate to love romance, squee! Libby sounds a bit inconsistent, but I really like the idea of this one.
YES! That is like the perfect summary of my entire review in like…two sentences. YOU’RE AMAZING.😂 I guess real-life people are inconsistent so Libby probably is just realistic…but it did rub me wrong, you know? Still, all over, a TERRIFIC BOOK THO.
I adore the cover! I’ve heard so many great things about this book and her other work, so I for sure need to read both at some point!
~Sara
Yesss, definitely do if you get the chance!! 😊
I know how much you loved All the Bright Places so I am so happy to hear that this lived up to your expectations. <3 It sounds like such an eye-opening and inspirational story and I can't wait to give it a try. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3
AHHH I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!! Did you like ATBP!? I can’t remember.🙈🙊
JACK’S LION MANE SOUNDS AWESOME!! I have never read a Jennifer Niven book (or a Maggie Stiefvater book *hides behind TBR because really should have fixed that by now, lol*), but how can it NOT be good with ALL THE FEELS??
Whaaaat are you doing with your life, Becca? NO NIVEN OR STIEFVATER??! THAT’S IT. COME RIGHT OVER HERE AND I’M GOING TO DUCK TAPE THEM TO YOUR HEAD. (haha just kidding. I will build a book fort of Niven/Stiefvater books around you until you read them all. This is a much better idea. It will work. *nods*)
OH MY GOODNESS ‘Holding Up The Universe’ sounds so good! I need to read a Jennifer Niven book *nods*. Also, your bookshelves. ALL the pretty. YOU ORGANIZE THEM LIKE A PRO *fistbump*.
AHHHH THANKYOU!!😂 Colour-coded shelves ftw, right?! 😉 And yessss, read all the Jennifer Niven! SHE NEEDS TO WRITE MORE BOOKS SO I CAN FLAIL AND HOWL OVER THEM.
HOW DID YOU MAKE THIS BOOK FLOAT IN MID-AIR. ARE YOU A WIZARD, CAIT?????? HUH, HUH, HUH???
Joking aside, this review is amazing! I loved this book so much. I haven’t read All The Bright Places (SORRY). But I really loved Holding Up The Universe, it really spoke to me and made me swoon and I, too, loved Jack. I loved how fat-positive this was, too.
Great review Cait!
YES I AM A WIZARD AND SEE I’M HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE??? TITLE REFERENCE FTW WOOOOO. #WinningAtLife 😂 Ahem. Jack was an adorable thing omg, and YES it was really nice to see how amazing Libby was. Her sassy clapbacks to the haters literally give life.
I just got ATBP a couple of weeks ago. It is also on my next year’s pile. I was sooooooooo upset with what went on on this book’s summary page on Goodreads. It got ridiculous. One girl was on Twitter saying that Jennifer should pay for the therapy sessions she needed after seeing the trigger word “fat” in the synopsis. I guess she never reads the the nutrition facts on the backs of jars. *hard side eye* Anyway, I will definitely be reading this book. Hopefully the ebook will go on special after Christmas. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. ☺
Yayyyyy!! I hope you enjoy it too. I want to re-read it via audio but, just, omg trying to find time these days is ridiculous.😂 But who doesn’t want their heart ripped out…TWICE?!? #GOODTIMES
But woah, what?! “Fat” is not a trigger word?! It’s a descriptor and it should not be used as an insult, I firmly believe that, but it’s not a word people should be scared of. I guess that’s why Jennifer Niven has been less visible for Holding Up the Universe’s release? She was like EVERYWHERE when ATBP was coming out. Like I chatted to her several times which was aaaawesome. But now she doesn’t see messages, I’m guessing. Probably because people suck.😕 I hate how awful people can ruin things for everyone.
Yes, some people definitely suck.
I’m so excited for this book because I loved All The Bright Places. It left me a sobbing emotional wreck. It destroyed me! So to read another book by an author that can make me feel so much is interesting, but it is cruel it continually will be compared to it’s predecessor. I’m glad it’s a very different book as it needs to be original, I think. I don’t want a repeat of that book I just want to see Niven is a good author who can hook me and make me care about completely new characters. It’s unfortunate Libby was an issue for you as I want to like her, I’ve heard people say similar things but I’m glad Jack is amazing because you’ve got to care about at least one character even with their utterly terrible decision making skills. Great review, I am still excited for this book despite the drawbacks,
YES! I’m glad it’s different too! I didn’t want a re-run of ATBP because like that book is sooo precious to me. So the fact that this has a bit of a different/lighter tone actually made me love it for itself. <3 ANYWAY I HOPE YOU LOVE IT TOO!
I really felt for Jack too, and it was really interesting learning about his condition in the book. I just didn’t understand Libby’s decisions either, and she seemed very judgemental and unhappy about everyone you know? I didn’t understand Jack’s decision-making either. Great review Cait!
There was a lot of questionable motivations going on in this book, right?!?😂 But the writing was just SO GOOD and I still had aaall the feels, so that’s a win for me. <3
This was an amazing review!! I cannot wait to read this one 🙂
Thanks so much, Kim! THAT’S REALLY KIND OF YOU.
Can’t believe I still Haven’t read this!!
Jennifer Niven is AWESOME. All the bright places is like my all time favorite book EVER,
Great review Cait!!! <3
Yessss, she is a majestic author of true GLORIOUSNESS. Basically definitely auto-buy for me now.😍😍
Oooooo! I absolutely ADORED The Lost and Found, and this one sounds quite interesting! I may have to check it out sometime!
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