Review: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Title: Everything, Everything

Author:  Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publishing Date: September 1st, 2015

Pages:  307
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Series:  Stand Alone
Source: Audio

 

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.

Wow, this book was amazing. I am going, to be honest. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. I received the ARC way back when and really the synopsis and cover just didn’t do it for me. I never picked it up. Now that the movie is out and I wanted to watch the movie, I needed to read the book. I grabbed it on audio and man I was wrong about this book. This book was so lovely. It was emotional, it had a great romance, it had adventure and imagination, humor and heartwarming moments. It was just the right kind of love story for me… and it was also more.

Maddie has SCID disease. She has been told she has had it her entire life. She understood she lived this life. She was happy. So she thought. The boy next door moves in. They become friends. They flirt. They become more. She falls for him and decides that this is not a life worth living if she can’t have the freedom to be with this boy or freedom to do anything. She then decides to run away and experience the world. (at least Hawaii) Things happen on the trip, in Hawaii, and of course, she comes backs home heartbroken and devastated, but the trip did change things. Living with those changes is what Maddie must figure out how to do.

Okay, so I am pretty sure everyone has already read this book and probably even seen the movie. I was so late for this train. I don’t know why it didn’t intrigue me at first. I am not big on contemporaries or straight up romances. I do like some but I am picky. This book just didn’t call to me for some reason. I was so wrong though. This book literally owns my heart. I loved every moment of it. The characters are fun, the romance is sweet, the trip to Hawaii is great, the family moments tore me to pieces, the issues addressed in this book, the conflicts, the moments. It all came together so perfectly and I love love love love this book.

SO Maddie. One thing I was worried about when I read the synopsis of this book was a whiny main character. I mean she would kind of have the right I guess. She has to stay in the house forever! Alone! That is pretty terrifying to think about. But Maddie, she was happy. She understood her circumstances and came to deal with them a long time ago. She did what she could to enjoy life. She had her mother, her nurse Carla, and online friends. She did amazing things like right spoiler reviews that were hilarious. She did online schooling, she hid astronauts, she played phonetics scrabble (which I so want to try) She lived her life the way she could. She didn’t whine or complain or feel sorry for herself. In fact, she refused to allow anyone to take pity on her. This is the hand she was dealt and she was good with it… as good as she could be. Maddie was smart and funny, and creative. So sweet and loving. No bad attributes I swear. She was just a ball of goodness.

Ollie. What Can I say about Ollie.? Oh yes, I fell for Ollie. He was loving and gentle and sweet and kind. Also, he was witty and charming and so so funny. I am pretty sure boys like him do not exists but us girls sure try to think they do. He was perfect for Maddie in every way. He didn’t pity her, he didn’t feel sorry for her. He treated her normal and they had fun together. Their conversations so had me laughing out loud. He truly cared for Maddie, her well-being, and her happiness.

The love was sweet. IT grew pretty fast but I can imagine Maddie was starved for it. She longed to be in love and it just so happens the first guy that gives her the opportunity is amazing and perfect. So it didn’t take long for the feelings to develop. I mean flirting was their first interaction… along with bundt cake abuse. Ollie had family issues, Maddie had health issues. They made it work without making their relationship about saving one another or their issues. They just wanted to be together. That is it.

The story was amazing, the writing was amazing, the ending was amazing. Everything, Everything was AMAZING. If you have not read this book read it. Please read it before the movie. The book, of course, is better and you will be spoiled by whichever you get to first. The book is worth the experience more than the movie. READ THIS BOOK…. Probably you have but if you have not READ THIS BOOK!

A full five hearts and so much more love than my five hearts can give.

Nicola Yoon grew up in Jamaica (the island) and Brooklyn (part of Long Island). She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. Everything, Everything is her first novel.