Book Review #75: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Hey Guys x

I bought this book ages ago and forgot I had it until I saw the trailer for the Netflix movie (which I reviewed HERE). After I watched the movie, I immediately started reading the book.

Violet and Finch meet at their lowest, and literally highest, moment, and this meeting is a catalyst for these two people to change each other's lives. But while Violet discovers a life outside of her grief, they both learn that love isn't always the answer.

I liked this book so much that it actually made me dislike the movie. Not that I think the movie was bad at all, but the book was so full that it made the movie seem empty. Like we were watching people say the words without actually feeling them. But the book completely captured everything that it needed to to tell this story.

For a start, I loved the character of Finch. Of the two, I think he was the hardest character to create, and the hardest to get the reader to understand. But Niven did such a good job with this character that I felt like I knew him. Sometimes I felt like he was someone I knew at school, then he was my best friend, then he was my brother, then he was me. I was able to relate to him almost too well at times. But the thing that struck me was that, even when I couldn't relate to what he was saying, I could understand him, and I could feel what he was saying - which is a testament to the writing.

And then there's the character of Violet. For me, in both the film and the book, she was the character that I didn't really like that much. I had to really force myself to 'get' her. But with the book (more so than the film) there did come a point when I got her. I never warmed to her completely (and I never really felt like she was in love with Finch until late into the story), but I got her.

But the best thing the book did was put these characters together in such a way that you felt like they had always been that way.

Having said all that, I found that not a lot actually happens in the book. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it took me a long time to get through it because I kept forgetting to pick it up. There was nothing really drawing me to it - and to be honest, if I didn't already know what happened at the end, I probably still wouldn't be done with it.

Nevertheless, I couldn't put it down for the last 150 or-so pages. I was so invested in their relationship, and in Violet and Finch as people, that I had to know where their story ended, even though I knew that the end wouldn't be positive.

And it was the end that really sold it for me. I didn't love it until after the Incident, where Violet is continuing with her wanderings. I actually don't know the last time I've read a book and felt so emotionally invested, but I really was.

What was good?
I've pretty much mentioned everything I loved about the book. But if I had to mention one thing in particular, this book did a great job or writing two people into love. Finch and Violet are not your typical rom-com couple, but after reading this book, you can't imagine them apart. Their relationship is special.

What was bad?
I would have liked to find out more about some of the lesser-seen background characters, like Charlie, Roamer etc. Even if they're only there to be the antagonist, it would have been nice to have less high school stereotypes.

Overall
I would definitely recommend this book. It's a special story told in a way that it can, and will, effect the lives of so many people.

4/5 Stars!

Lou