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kaikai1618's review
4.5 stars
There is something that sets this book apart from others I have read. When I heard about Nina LaCour's fabulous writing I did not know what I was going to find. This book had the distinct flavor of life mixed with a sort of whimsical feel. I was still engaged though it was not riveting. Life itself is not always riveting. I think that's what so many YA authors always try to do. Put in more drama and more hype to make the story of normal lives more interesting. But this book didn't feel like it was trying hard. We had our originally interesting plot, but the characters were the ones carrying the story. The writing and our MC's thought process within how she viewed the movie world and her job were amazing and beautifully fleshed out. It was such an amazing charm within this book.
Personally I think that a certain style was upheld through the whole book and had lingering ambiance through everything. The book had serious topics within it but it dealt with them well. We had representation of what it's like to be homeless and alone. How life is not always sunsets and pools. The ways that Jamal explains his life in this book got me thinking about my own life. Good books make you think and reflect upon yourself.
I think one of the things I most appreciated about this book was how it was not an insta-love story. There are many novels I have read where the writing and the pacing is so fast and you want the characters to get together because that's all the story has.
I did not feel this with this book at all. Everything felt simple yet complex with many layers underneath each person. The writing had a gradual pacing that felt very realistic and like you were truly saturating yourself into the moments of each day. The romantic relationship was not rushed as one of the characters was in a dark place and was not ready. It was really more about exploring the rawness of Ava and seeing how she heals while finding herself and making a strong friendship with Emi. This does not happen over the course of three days or one week like so many books in YA have. They know each other for about a month of developing their relationship. I think that the timing and the way everything ended up felt very sweet and like a good way to end the book. The relationship never felt excruciatingly slow because somehow the writer made me feel like this felt right. Everything felt like the relationship between Emi and Ava wasn't stumbling over itself.
Like any very good book, I got something from it. Not only did I reflect upon my own privileges and the life I was given when Jamal explained the hardships of his own, but I also feel like I appreciate the craft within films so much more. I'm not in any way someone who looks into films, but "the love" that Emi has for this industry and the pride and care she has for her work was amazing to read about. I loved her narrative. She was such an authentic person who had such good character and a great mindset in how she knew what she wanted for herself. Throughout the book we see that she is strong and independent but in a way that is not constantly bold. Instead we see a more reserved version of strong and independent that I find to be more prevalent in everyday people. Not all people have the attitude to just go out be very bold with their opinions or statements. I find Emi's way of showing how she's strong to resignate more with me as a normal girl growing out of her shell. Emi knew she had to get strong and break ties with Morgan. Then after that we see how she has her vision for things on set and will hunt and persevere. She will fight for what she thinks looks good and right because she knows what she's doing. But that part where she describes how everything comes together, how certain things pop on camera and how much these paintings that I don't usually pay attention to in movies mean. It's all attention to detail. As someone who loves and appreciates art, it was so interesting to have a look into the art within movies. When she described her sets and how everything meant something, I felt "the love"
The entire book had a simple brilliance to it and never felt like it was trying too hard. I could already tell how much attention to detail and real life experiences went into this book without reading the acknowledgements beforehand.
It was Beautifully elegant.
It was Brilliant.
There is something that sets this book apart from others I have read. When I heard about Nina LaCour's fabulous writing I did not know what I was going to find. This book had the distinct flavor of life mixed with a sort of whimsical feel. I was still engaged though it was not riveting. Life itself is not always riveting. I think that's what so many YA authors always try to do. Put in more drama and more hype to make the story of normal lives more interesting. But this book didn't feel like it was trying hard. We had our originally interesting plot, but the characters were the ones carrying the story. The writing and our MC's thought process within how she viewed the movie world and her job were amazing and beautifully fleshed out. It was such an amazing charm within this book.
Personally I think that a certain style was upheld through the whole book and had lingering ambiance through everything. The book had serious topics within it but it dealt with them well. We had representation of what it's like to be homeless and alone. How life is not always sunsets and pools. The ways that Jamal explains his life in this book got me thinking about my own life. Good books make you think and reflect upon yourself.
I think one of the things I most appreciated about this book was how it was not an insta-love story. There are many novels I have read where the writing and the pacing is so fast and you want the characters to get together because that's all the story has.
I did not feel this with this book at all. Everything felt simple yet complex with many layers underneath each person. The writing had a gradual pacing that felt very realistic and like you were truly saturating yourself into the moments of each day. The romantic relationship was not rushed as one of the characters was in a dark place and was not ready. It was really more about exploring the rawness of Ava and seeing how she heals while finding herself and making a strong friendship with Emi. This does not happen over the course of three days or one week like so many books in YA have. They know each other for about a month of developing their relationship. I think that the timing and the way everything ended up felt very sweet and like a good way to end the book. The relationship never felt excruciatingly slow because somehow the writer made me feel like this felt right. Everything felt like the relationship between Emi and Ava wasn't stumbling over itself.
Like any very good book, I got something from it. Not only did I reflect upon my own privileges and the life I was given when Jamal explained the hardships of his own, but I also feel like I appreciate the craft within films so much more. I'm not in any way someone who looks into films, but "the love" that Emi has for this industry and the pride and care she has for her work was amazing to read about. I loved her narrative. She was such an authentic person who had such good character and a great mindset in how she knew what she wanted for herself. Throughout the book we see that she is strong and independent but in a way that is not constantly bold. Instead we see a more reserved version of strong and independent that I find to be more prevalent in everyday people. Not all people have the attitude to just go out be very bold with their opinions or statements. I find Emi's way of showing how she's strong to resignate more with me as a normal girl growing out of her shell. Emi knew she had to get strong and break ties with Morgan. Then after that we see how she has her vision for things on set and will hunt and persevere. She will fight for what she thinks looks good and right because she knows what she's doing. But that part where she describes how everything comes together, how certain things pop on camera and how much these paintings that I don't usually pay attention to in movies mean. It's all attention to detail. As someone who loves and appreciates art, it was so interesting to have a look into the art within movies. When she described her sets and how everything meant something, I felt "the love"
The entire book had a simple brilliance to it and never felt like it was trying too hard. I could already tell how much attention to detail and real life experiences went into this book without reading the acknowledgements beforehand.
It was Beautifully elegant.
It was Brilliant.
16kneidels's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment
Moderate: Outing, Domestic abuse, Grief, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
2.0
My problem with Everything leads to you is how incredibly one-dimensional and shallow the story is. Everything is either modern! and chic! or vintage! and charming!, polished to perfection. There is very little realism. I always welcome diversity and was happy to see a a lesbian mixed race main character. However, you’re telling me she has never experienced discrimination, rejection or any type of struggle?
I don’t buy it.
We’ve all been there, especially if you're not white, cis and rich. Someone questions your competence because of an irrelevant trait of yours. You can’t do it because you’re a girl, you can’t do it because it goes against the prejudices people have about you. You can’t do it because you’re in a minority and different. Apparently our MC is completely blind and inexperienced with all of this.
Emi is privileged, extremely sheltered and knows nothing else than the glamorous side of Hollywod. She’s given amazing opportunities at random, because she has contacts and never has to work hard for anything. This girl is genuinely shocked when people don’t have the same condition and expectations as her, and that’s what made me loathe her. Ridiculously naive and wide-eyed, she jumps around like a goddamned fairy. None of her flaws are pointed out in the book, although I could find plenty. The same goes for every single character, who is confident, loved by everyone and have a buzzing cloud of creativity around them.
Ask any 18-year-old what they want to do with their lives and get back a terrified look and realize they are lost. Emi has everything figured out, zero real problems. That’s why Ava’s story seems so forced; it’s pitiful but in a tragic sense you see in Hollywood movies without substance. It’s not real, and it pissed me off.
These beautiful people are living their lives in beautiful Los Angeles (I’m not even hiding my jealousy), doing beautiful things. They should be on a kids’ show where everything is lovely and fun and BRIGHT. Not in a young adult contemporary novel. Calling the story shallow is an understatement. Pair that with a slow, boring plot and you have a book I struggled to finish.
I did enjoy how we found out a lot about the world of film-making and how Emi’s sexuality wasn’t the main point of the book. That’s it. It’s fluffy and sweet but feels forced and distant from reality.
I don’t buy it.
We’ve all been there, especially if you're not white, cis and rich. Someone questions your competence because of an irrelevant trait of yours. You can’t do it because you’re a girl, you can’t do it because it goes against the prejudices people have about you. You can’t do it because you’re in a minority and different. Apparently our MC is completely blind and inexperienced with all of this.
Emi is privileged, extremely sheltered and knows nothing else than the glamorous side of Hollywod. She’s given amazing opportunities at random, because she has contacts and never has to work hard for anything. This girl is genuinely shocked when people don’t have the same condition and expectations as her, and that’s what made me loathe her. Ridiculously naive and wide-eyed, she jumps around like a goddamned fairy. None of her flaws are pointed out in the book, although I could find plenty. The same goes for every single character, who is confident, loved by everyone and have a buzzing cloud of creativity around them.
Ask any 18-year-old what they want to do with their lives and get back a terrified look and realize they are lost. Emi has everything figured out, zero real problems. That’s why Ava’s story seems so forced; it’s pitiful but in a tragic sense you see in Hollywood movies without substance. It’s not real, and it pissed me off.
These beautiful people are living their lives in beautiful Los Angeles (I’m not even hiding my jealousy), doing beautiful things. They should be on a kids’ show where everything is lovely and fun and BRIGHT. Not in a young adult contemporary novel. Calling the story shallow is an understatement. Pair that with a slow, boring plot and you have a book I struggled to finish.
I did enjoy how we found out a lot about the world of film-making and how Emi’s sexuality wasn’t the main point of the book. That’s it. It’s fluffy and sweet but feels forced and distant from reality.
bwithwings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
leafblade's review against another edition
4.0
The spanish translation of this book is the worst ever and 100% the reason why this isn't a 5/5
It was just so satisfying to read!!! The behind the scenes of making movies and solving mysteries and kissing girls!!!! Totally my dream life.
Fifth???? #sapphicathon read. Or maybe sixth. idek anymore
It was just so satisfying to read!!! The behind the scenes of making movies and solving mysteries and kissing girls!!!! Totally my dream life.
Fifth???? #sapphicathon read. Or maybe sixth. idek anymore
x_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
An adorable fluffy romance. I adored the descriptions of designing sets and I, like other reviewers, suddenly felt like I had missed my calling.
mxpringle's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Child abuse
majorrogue's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
linnaboobooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.
I really like this story because it's more than just romance, it's about two girls both trying to find themselves in the world they're in.
Emi is trying to show that she can do the job she's passionate about in set design as well as trying to get over her ex-girlfriend who has broken up with her over six times and feels like a yo-yo being pulled back and forth.
Ava is a girl who is living in a shelter after bad, bad arguments with her adoptive mother who has never told her about her birth mother. Now, because of Emi and Emi's friend Charlotte, a whole new part of her past begins to open up
I really like this story because it's more than just romance, it's about two girls both trying to find themselves in the world they're in.
Emi is trying to show that she can do the job she's passionate about in set design as well as trying to get over her ex-girlfriend who has broken up with her over six times and feels like a yo-yo being pulled back and forth.
Ava is a girl who is living in a shelter after bad, bad arguments with her adoptive mother who has never told her about her birth mother. Now, because of Emi and Emi's friend Charlotte, a whole new part of her past begins to open up
stinkymorg's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed it I just got a little bored it felt like a lot of reading for not much to happen.