Published: September 1, 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Acquired: Hardcover
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
I would like to thank Dianne over at Pinoy Book Tours for the opportunity to read this phenomenal debut novel.
Where do I even start? This book is just so good that I don't know where to start.
All her life, Madeline has been living inside her house, quarantined from the world. She has only seen three people in her life; her mother, her nurse, and on occasion, her architecture teacher, Mr. Waterman. She only goes out through the books that she reads.
Her new neighbors changed her life. She watched them from her window, curious of these new people in her life. The moment I read this line on the blurb on the dust jacket:
He’s tall, lean and wearing all black
I was hooked! I knew I would love everything in this book. What starts as an innocent friendship turns into an all-consuming romance. Madeline falls in love with Olly even if she knows that doing so could change her life forever.
In my head I know I've been in love before, but it doesn't feel like it. Being in love with you is better than the first time. It feels like the first time and the last time and the only time all at once.
Madeline's mother, Pauline, is a doctor. Her relationship with Madeline is something you only see in a Hallmark Channel movie. It's picturesque and ideal. Even my mom and I don't have that kind of relationship. But I guess, it comes with the territory. Madeline is everything her mother has left now. For any mother, losing your child is very painful and they'll just do anything and I mean, ANYTHING just so they can protect them that they sacrifice their happiness and sometimes, their child's happiness in the process.
prom·ise (ˈpräməs) n. pl. - es. 1. The lie you want to keep. [2015, Whittier]
Olly is the ultimate dreamboat. *insert heart eyes emoji* His love for Madeline is above and beyond. It's the kind of love I can never explain because I never experienced it. All I know is that his love for Madeline is the kind of love that all of us has to have. (P.S Where can I get my own Olly?) Madeline and Olly went on an adventure. Madeline took the risk. She got out of the confines of her house. I never felt so happy for Madeline. I never felt so happy. PERIOD. They went on a journey to discover Hawaii and to discover their love and just how far it can go.
The only thing I know for sure is that this, being here with Olly, being able to love him and be loved by him, is everything.
Nicola Yoon definitely hit the right marks with her debut novel. Her characters are just so easy to love. Their story is just so easy to love. This book is so easy to love because love is everything. The illustrations in this book is just so adorable. (P.S Nicola's husband, David, illustrated them. How cool is that?!)
Spoiler alert: Love is worth everything. Everything.
I recommend you to have this book on your ever growing TBR list. You will not regret it.
Nicola Yoon grew up in Jamaica (the island) and Brooklyn (part of Long Island). She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. Everything, Everything is her first novel.
