Tag Archives: Jennifer Niven

All the Bright Places – Book Review

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All the Bright Places is one of my favorite books of all time, and I can’t even remember how many times I have re-read it. It spreads awareness on the topic of suicide, the importance of balanced mental health, overcoming grief, etc. through a captivating and lovely yet heart-breaking plot. I was seriously invested, and this is the kind of book where it is practically impossible not to finish in one sitting.

The story follows outcast Theodore Finch, a boy with Bipolar disorder who struggles to find his identity/will to live in a harsh world and popular Violet Markey, a girl who blames herself for the death of her late sister and consequently feels like her future is in pieces. Both teens have a similar mindset at the beginning of the book where they meet on the ledge of the bell tower, and it is ‘unclear about who saves whom.’

I’ve read a lot of books, and I haven’t found one just like this. I was just walking through a Barnes and Nobles and got caught by the cool cover. Although Gen Z is extremely understanding and, in my opinion, more open/free compared to others, there is still a fair amount of stigma that comes with the discussion of sensitive topics such as the ones in this book. All the Bright Places isn’t just another book explaining why suicide is bad. It touches and talks about these topics in a way that no other novel can- any other book I’ve seen about suicide just seems kind of fake… and after reading the author’s note, the experiences and thoughts and memories in this book seem so genuine because they are real. The author herself has gone through these losses, mindsets, and abstract thoughts, which make the book feel that much alive. Another bonus is that this book really cultivated my love for women modernist authors like Virginia Woolf (one of my favorites- if not favorite writer) and Sylvia Plath. Jennifer Niven really has a way with really making you feel like you are loved and aren’t alone with your experiences, so this is one book I would have to recommend :).

(P.S. Jennifer Niven got inspired by one of her own original ideas by one of her own original characters in the book, and decided to make a blog! It’s called GermMagazine.com!)

(P.S. #2, another book by her Holding up the Universe is also amazing and touches on important teen mental health topics, too)

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

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I first heard about this book from one of my close friends. We usually are into the same type of books, so I knew I had to read this. I went to the bookstore a few weeks later and purchased it. It wasn’t until a few months later that I actually began reading it.

I instantly fell in love with the book at the first page. When Finch’s character was introduced, I immediately connected with his psyche. The style of the writing is just one that I find myself relating to.

With every page turn, I became more and more invested in the story. The subtle romance between Finch and Violet that sparked in the beginning was so captivating. Usually books targeted towards young adult audiences don’t seem relatable to me, but this one was. When I am really invested in a book, I will finish it in less than a week. I finished reading this one in two days.

I feel as though any teenager/young adult who reads this book will relate to at least one part. This book was very inspiring to me as well. It made me feel less alone.

This book is honestly what gave me courage to fully open up to my school counselor. It helped me realize that it is okay not to be okay.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.