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A review by hayleyjames24
Everything Is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“I love the power running gives me to believe in myself. Believe in my body and the space it takes up in the world. Each step is more than a movement forward, it’s a mark on the earth to say “I am here. I am loved. I am enough”
This book fully took my heart and I did not expect it too! It was so sad and tense but also hopeful and makes you truly reflect. Having it set in Aotearoa and written by a NZ author sealed the deal for me and is so freaking special to read about familiar places, language (especially the macrons over the Māori words something about that makes my heart sing) birds, descriptions of undulating hills and salty air at the beach. This is a bloody epic debut! Can’t wait to read more from this author!
I have been running for a wee while and it definitely inspired me to get out there and go for my runs and remember the love of it and how powerful it feels to run!
This book is very heavy and should come with a few trigger warnings for people who are sensitive to these topics. It did a lot and talked about some really deep things which as body issues, family issues (absent dad), exploitative relationships, toxic sport careers, eating disorders, underdog!!! Kinda found family but also did it SO well. I found myself sucked in everytime I opened this book.
Mickey has my heart!!!!!!
I can feel the anxiety in my stomach as I qread this book, it’s so real being in Mickey’s mind anxiously awaiting the next thing that’s gonna happen to her. It feels like watching a car accident, you know it’s gonna all come crashing but you’re just waiting for it to happen and the character doesn’t know what’s around the corner. I was always rooting for Mickey hoping she would make it through and keep going!
I did get to one part before bed where I was absolutely sobbing and couldn’t stop to go to sleep haha so it truly took me on a journey.
it’s so visceral and real. The writing is kinda basic (????) but the pictures she paints and the feelings that are sitting in my body when I’m reading are crazy. I loved the flash backs and flash forwards, it really kept you wanting to turn pages.
The way she described running as the only thing that quietened her brain and stopped her pain was so important to me, I definitely don’t have as much pain she she does but when I get horribly anxious a run is the only thing that makes my brain stfu
Really great musing on women’s rights and women running alone, and a bit of feminism
This book fully took my heart and I did not expect it too! It was so sad and tense but also hopeful and makes you truly reflect. Having it set in Aotearoa and written by a NZ author sealed the deal for me and is so freaking special to read about familiar places, language (especially the macrons over the Māori words something about that makes my heart sing) birds, descriptions of undulating hills and salty air at the beach. This is a bloody epic debut! Can’t wait to read more from this author!
I have been running for a wee while and it definitely inspired me to get out there and go for my runs and remember the love of it and how powerful it feels to run!
This book is very heavy and should come with a few trigger warnings for people who are sensitive to these topics. It did a lot and talked about some really deep things which as body issues, family issues (absent dad), exploitative relationships, toxic sport careers, eating disorders, underdog!!! Kinda found family but also did it SO well. I found myself sucked in everytime I opened this book.
Mickey has my heart!!!!!!
I can feel the anxiety in my stomach as I qread this book, it’s so real being in Mickey’s mind anxiously awaiting the next thing that’s gonna happen to her. It feels like watching a car accident, you know it’s gonna all come crashing but you’re just waiting for it to happen and the character doesn’t know what’s around the corner. I was always rooting for Mickey hoping she would make it through and keep going!
I did get to one part before bed where I was absolutely sobbing and couldn’t stop to go to sleep haha so it truly took me on a journey.
it’s so visceral and real. The writing is kinda basic (????) but the pictures she paints and the feelings that are sitting in my body when I’m reading are crazy. I loved the flash backs and flash forwards, it really kept you wanting to turn pages.
The way she described running as the only thing that quietened her brain and stopped her pain was so important to me, I definitely don’t have as much pain she she does but when I get horribly anxious a run is the only thing that makes my brain stfu
Really great musing on women’s rights and women running alone, and a bit of feminism
Finding our grit, pushing to excellence but also learning to love ourselves and the journey. Female friendships!!!!!!
Love the (very) secondary love story with Niall 😭 Mickey deserves this
Love the (very) secondary love story with Niall 😭 Mickey deserves this
I love Mickey, I love Phillipa!!! I love Bonnie I love Niall - these characters have my heart
I was rooting for Mickey the whole way and I kinda like how the ending was open, it felt like it brought the themes of finding our grit and learning to love ourselves and healing to a full circle.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, and Mental illness