A review by eldritchreader
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour

4.0

There is something about the way LaCour weaves a story and develops her characters that makes her writing just so engaging. This is my second book by this incredibly talented author and, while it was not my favourite, I couldn't help falling in love.


“The best things aren't perfectly constructed. They aren't illusions. they aren't larger than life. They are life.”



This story follows the story of some extraordinarily written characters with some awesome jobs in movie making, a backdrop of California and the world of Hollywood, a mystery involving a movie star and, of course, a good helping of finding one's self.

While I have seen this book marked as a YA story, I would venture into saying it could also fit nicely into the New Adult genre. The MC, Emi, and many of her fictional peers, are in between high school and venturing into college. The book largely revolves around their jobs in the movie industry and while her parents are present, Emi also lives out of home for a portion of the story.


“There are no scenes in life, there are only minutes.”



Unlike the last LaCour book I read, [b:We Are Okay|28243032|We Are Okay|Nina LaCour|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471899036l/28243032._SY75_.jpg|48277368], I wasn't thrilled with the MC. In fact, Emi seriously drove me nuts sometimes and I wondered if I was going to have to deal with ridiculous tendency to view the world as make-believe movie that revolved around her for the entire book. Fortunately, she does eventually sort out some of her egocentric views.

Despite what irked me Emi, I adore how LaCour used this as part of her story and I do truly admire her character development. Similarly, there were times when I truly was not a fan of Ava, a main side-character in the story. But again, the progression of the character was purposeful and so well done.

I also loved almost all of the side-characters; from Jamal and Charlotte, the side-kicks to the main story; Morgan, the ex-girlfriend who has her own minor character development; to Emi's whole-hearted and adopt-me-please! parents.


“I think that sometimes people want something so much that they manifest it. Or at least they try to.”



While this book is such a gem when it comes to diverse lit - so many ah-mazing LGBTQIA+ and POC characters - this is ultimately a book about being human. The emotion, the struggles, and just the journey to a future while dealing with and embracing your past is what is key to this beautifully written story.



I read this for Sapphicathon!