When, I saw that All the Bright Places had been released on Netflix, I was so excited. I had no idea it was coming out, and I immediately remembered how much I loved the book by Jennifer Niven.

I’m not really going to talk about the movie today (except to say it was great and touched my heart and you should watch it) but I am going to recommend you read the YA book! You can buy it here!

Synopsis:

All the Bright Places is a young adult romance novel about two teenagers who both struggle with mental health and suicidal thoughts. Their story is told from two perspectives, Violet and Finch. They have very different struggles, caused by very different things, but their stories intertwine until they are inseparable. The alternating structure is really engaging, because you get insight into both sides of their relationship as it develops and as they change.

My thoughts:

My favourite thing about this book was the character development that you see occur. The impact Finch and Violet have on one another inspires serious thought about how our actions and words impact others, whether that is intentional or not. I think the author’s attention to how mental health changes people’s lives and impacts every part of the daily life is remarkable. Jennifer Niven writes about difficult issues in a very informed and realistic way, she doesn’t go over the top, or dramatize the problems.

The story’s premise and conclusion are heart-breaking, but in different ways. This makes it really hard to read sometimes, I teared up quite a few times while I was reading!

This book discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts extensively, and think it’s important to remind you, that should you choose to read this, read it from an educational perspective. Consider the insight it offers into a variety of mental health issues, so that you can empathise with others. Should you find yourself identifying with their feelings or mindsets, I would recommend seeking advice from online mental health services, or someone you love and trust.

Favourite or forgettable?

I really enjoyed this book, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s one of my favourites. It falls somewhere in between favourite and forgettable, although it is certainly worth reading because of the issues it gives light to, and the emotion it evokes in the reader – which is super cathartic.

The reason it isn’t a favourite is because it’s so similar to other teen romance YA novels. I didn’t feel like it’s structure or plot was particularly unique, and it felt quite imitative! I’ve linked some similar YA romance novels below for you to read!

If you loved the books I list, you’re going to love All the Bright Places, but if you can only read one, I’d recommend The Fault in Our Stars (it’s a classic!)

If you loved this, read this:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green [YA romance about two chronically ill teens] (buy here!)
• Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott [YA romance about two chronically ill teens] (buy here!)
• Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell [YA romance] (buy here!)

My YouTube review:

Note the amazon purchase links in this post are affiliate links. This means that, should you purchase the books through my link, I earn a very small commission! You don’t pay any extra!