Book Review: “Everything Everything” by Nicola Yoon

“Everything, Everything” by Nicola Yoon (2015)

Genre: YA, Romance, Contemporary Fiction

Page Length: 320 pages (hardcover edition)

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. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

Upon first reading this book I immediately felt that Maddy’s story is somewhat bittersweet. From the very beginning of the novel you are torn between wanting her to end up with Olly (the boy next door), but you don’t want her to risk her own health to do so. I also liked that though Maddy feels trapped physically and emotionally she, for the most part, tries to keep a humorous and positive outlook on life.

Everything Everything has got a strong plot, a diverse writer and protagonist, as well as romance that is sweet and not over-saturated (or over the top). I felt that I and others could relate to Maddy in the sense that we are both avid readers, but also the fear of being afraid to take risks in life. While this is a romance novel, it’s a book that has a message to make the most of every day.

The overall setup of the book is pretty neat as well. The whole novel is a mixture of prose, poems, doodles/drawings, and Maddy’s random thoughts/charts. Those things blended together give the book a fun and energetic feel. As a bonus the cover art is absolutely gorgeous!

This is is probably the cutest, swoon-worthy romance I have read all year! My only regret is that I wish the book was longer!