Review: ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by Jennifer Niven

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This was possibly one of the most moving and gripping books I have read this year. It ripped my heart out. Stomped on it. And then set all of the little pieces on fire. Jennifer Niven's prose reminded me a lot of Jandy Nelson. So moving. So touching. So heart wrenching. So poetic. There have been a lot of YA books about bipolar and suicide this year. It's an important topic that deserves attention. And this one does it so well. I've read some really great books so far this year, but this one just may sit at the top.