A review by megan_wy
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

dark emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Heard a lot of good things about this book, however, I personally don’t feel like it lived up to the potential. I just don’t feel like the whole start of this book in the bell tower is realistic, nor is it cute. Also, Violet’s character endured SO MUCH from start to end and I don’t think the character development and grief from her perspective was fully realistic. As someone who struggles with my own mental health, it was slightly difficult to read things on Finch’s end. In his mind, death was fascinating and a way to be free, and people that really are struggling are hard to be saved. Even though he was loved and experienced happiness with Violet, he couldn’t be saved from his own internal demons. These parts were depressing to read through, but felt more vulnerable and more intricate than other aspects of this book. I was just never fully pulled into this book though. The whole “wandering” and “UltraViolet Remarkey-able” was overdone and too cliché for my liking. I think Violet’s character was written to suffer and be an emotional piece. She has been through more at 17 than some people will go through for their entire life. We needed more realism, grief, and deeper emotions and looks into her mind. I guess I was just expecting more! And just a general warning, this book has many many many casual references to suicide that can be triggering or difficult for some readers to get through. 
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