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wurm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jenzhg's review
3.0
3.85/5 ⭐️
I think this book was fascinating and gorgeous or maybe I'm just biased because of all the literature quotes.
That aside, I can totally understand why people may not like this book or find it mediocre at most. While the book is a dual POV, Theodore Finch is our story's main protagonist and thus, if readers weren't able to connect with Theodore immediately, it would definitely make the book more difficult to enjoy.
I for one really loved his character. I think Finch was so lovely and endearing--so well-written which was why I think this book so easily plucked my heartstrings and made me cry.
I also really enjoyed how Jennifer Niven raised awareness about the stigmas surrounding mental health. While we're very lucky today to have social media and have a generation much more accepting towards mental health; society back then definitely weren't.
I think that some newer readers tend to just forget about that aspect and see this book more like a 'Romeo & Juliet', star-crossed lovers-Esque book but I really think it's more so about mental health and the importance of having support and the reality of actually finding said support. Most school systems continue to fail us by assuming our life back home is amazing when most of the time many parents can be negligent and/or abusive.
I also want to add that Violet was always going to be the one that was saved. I believe that Violet technically didn't have any mental illnesses and was just going through the harsh and unforgiving phases of grief whereas Theodore really was mentally unstable and actually was mentally ill. That being said, the book also explores the difficulty of helping a mentally ill person as their loved one/ person-on-the-side.
For the romance aspect, I LOVEDDDD it. It was slow and sweet yet once it took off, it was the best ride ever. Theodore was like the best boyfriend to Violet ever and like-wise. However, this is definitely moot but I personally believe that Violet wasn't as there for him as he was for her. Do I think that if she was it would've prevented him from his suicide? Absolutely not. Although, I definitely do think that it would've maybe made a bigger impact on Finch's ultimate decision. BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT, their wanderings (dates for future me who forgets) are always so beautiful and warm and endearing . IT MAKES ME SMILE SO WIDE!!! Regardless of the ending, both taught each other new things and were each others' cornerstones when they were mad at the world.
In conclusion, this book was wonderful and a somewhat insightful read. The book explores these concepts (mental health and the importance of support) while still being easy to read and appealing to a wide range of teenagers which of course, naturally sacrifices some of the heavier aspects that could've made this book even better . Hence, I give this book a 3.5/5 <3
- violet was lowkey annoying (ppl make mistakes tho)
- liked Theodore’s personality, god I LOVE him
- raising awareness to mental health & the stigmas back then (not so much now (we are very privileged) )
I think this book was fascinating and gorgeous or maybe I'm just biased because of all the literature quotes.
That aside, I can totally understand why people may not like this book or find it mediocre at most. While the book is a dual POV, Theodore Finch is our story's main protagonist and thus, if readers weren't able to connect with Theodore immediately, it would definitely make the book more difficult to enjoy.
I for one really loved his character. I think Finch was so lovely and endearing--so well-written which was why I think this book so easily plucked my heartstrings and made me cry.
I also really enjoyed how Jennifer Niven raised awareness about the stigmas surrounding mental health. While we're very lucky today to have social media and have a generation much more accepting towards mental health; society back then definitely weren't.
I think that some newer readers tend to just forget about that aspect and see this book more like a 'Romeo & Juliet', star-crossed lovers-Esque book but I really think it's more so about mental health and the importance of having support and the reality of actually finding said support. Most school systems continue to fail us by assuming our life back home is amazing when most of the time many parents can be negligent and/or abusive.
I also want to add that Violet was always going to be the one that was saved. I believe that Violet technically didn't have any mental illnesses and was just going through the harsh and unforgiving phases of grief whereas Theodore really was mentally unstable and actually was mentally ill. That being said, the book also explores the difficulty of helping a mentally ill person as their loved one/ person-on-the-side.
For the romance aspect, I LOVEDDDD it. It was slow and sweet yet once it took off, it was the best ride ever. Theodore was like the best boyfriend to Violet ever and like-wise. However, this is definitely moot but I personally believe that Violet wasn't as there for him as he was for her. Do I think that if she was it would've prevented him from his suicide? Absolutely not. Although, I definitely do think that it would've maybe made a bigger impact on Finch's ultimate decision. BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT, their wanderings (dates for future me who forgets) are always so beautiful and warm and endearing . IT MAKES ME SMILE SO WIDE!!! Regardless of the ending, both taught each other new things and were each others' cornerstones when they were mad at the world.
In conclusion, this book was wonderful and a somewhat insightful read. The book explores these concepts (mental health and the importance of support) while still being easy to read and appealing to a wide range of teenagers which of course, naturally sacrifices some of the heavier aspects that could've made this book even better . Hence, I give this book a 3.5/5 <3
- violet was lowkey annoying (ppl make mistakes tho)
- liked Theodore’s personality, god I LOVE him
- raising awareness to mental health & the stigmas back then (not so much now (we are very privileged) )
karinasilvz's review
4.0
I read this book very soon after it came out and absolutely loved it. Since then, it's been 100% my favorite book and I've read it a countless amount of times.
Not only does the writing suck you into the story immediately, the characters are so relatable to me that it's hard to wrap my head around.
Let's just talk about Finch. I have never related so much to a book character in my entire life. I struggle with social anxiety (not the same thing that he does but still a big issue) and depression and I completely understand him. The way he spoke about being diagnosed, about being put into a label just spoke to me. I love him and he will forever be alive in my heart.
This book is the only book in my entire life that's made me cry. I'm rambling but I just absolutely love it and I feel like it's my own little world. I've only talked to or recommended this book to very few people because it's so close to my heart.
(Sorry this went on for so long) THE POINT IS it's absolutely incredible (((and Finch will always be alive to me)))
Not only does the writing suck you into the story immediately, the characters are so relatable to me that it's hard to wrap my head around.
Let's just talk about Finch. I have never related so much to a book character in my entire life. I struggle with social anxiety (not the same thing that he does but still a big issue) and depression and I completely understand him. The way he spoke about being diagnosed, about being put into a label just spoke to me. I love him and he will forever be alive in my heart.
This book is the only book in my entire life that's made me cry. I'm rambling but I just absolutely love it and I feel like it's my own little world. I've only talked to or recommended this book to very few people because it's so close to my heart.
(Sorry this went on for so long) THE POINT IS it's absolutely incredible (((and Finch will always be alive to me)))
imme_van_gorp's review
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Was this book supposed to feel like pretentious drivel on steroids or has something gone seriously wrong?
The never-ending, supposedly insightful ramblings and literary quotes made my eye twitch uncontrollably, and the writing was very close to giving me a full-blown aneurysm. Furthermore, the portrayals of important and delicate subjects were all handled in rather distasteful and over-the-top kind of ways.
The characters in this book were also completely unbearable; every single “adult” needed to be slapped right into next week, and the hyper-active, mentally ill MMC somehow developed an insane obsession with the moody, bitchy FMC for no reason whatsoever. Of course, both MCs are represented as quirky and special and not like everyone else, but in reality they were just sad and lonely, and I personally don’t think that’s a feeling that should be romanticized or idolized.
Also, zero real conversations have actually been spoken in this whole entire book, but who cares, right?
I think reading this book could be best described with one single word: headache.
The never-ending, supposedly insightful ramblings and literary quotes made my eye twitch uncontrollably, and the writing was very close to giving me a full-blown aneurysm. Furthermore, the portrayals of important and delicate subjects were all handled in rather distasteful and over-the-top kind of ways.
The characters in this book were also completely unbearable; every single “adult” needed to be slapped right into next week, and the hyper-active, mentally ill MMC somehow developed an insane obsession with the moody, bitchy FMC for no reason whatsoever. Of course, both MCs are represented as quirky and special and not like everyone else, but in reality they were just sad and lonely, and I personally don’t think that’s a feeling that should be romanticized or idolized.
Also, zero real conversations have actually been spoken in this whole entire book, but who cares, right?
I think reading this book could be best described with one single word: headache.
readwithkiekie's review against another edition
1.0
*Throws Problematic books in the bin*
I may be one of very few who disliked this book but I do have my reasons, and those reasons probably mean more than most. There's no doubt that Jennifer Niven is a good writer, there were some poetic prose in the story that are easily quotable, but that's as far as it goes.
Violet and Finch are very relatable characters to me as I understood their Depression. I understood their feelings and their thoughts, and that's not something you come by often, however, I also felt a disconnect from them because their illness was everything. I just felt like the book was written just to have two characters who were mentally ill and nothing else, like Violet and Finch were their Depression.
To be honest, All the Bright Places is just another over-hyped book that fails on anything original. Mental Illness is not a trend, it's a serious problem and I just wished Jennifer Niven could have given a more realistic portrayal.
I may be one of very few who disliked this book but I do have my reasons, and those reasons probably mean more than most. There's no doubt that Jennifer Niven is a good writer, there were some poetic prose in the story that are easily quotable, but that's as far as it goes.
Violet and Finch are very relatable characters to me as I understood their Depression. I understood their feelings and their thoughts, and that's not something you come by often, however, I also felt a disconnect from them because their illness was everything. I just felt like the book was written just to have two characters who were mentally ill and nothing else, like Violet and Finch were their Depression.
To be honest, All the Bright Places is just another over-hyped book that fails on anything original. Mental Illness is not a trend, it's a serious problem and I just wished Jennifer Niven could have given a more realistic portrayal.
thatdragonlady's review
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
happilyheatherafterr's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0