Genre: Fiction
Page Count: 350+
Published: 2015 (Ember)
Potential Triggers: Suicide/Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Attempts, Drugs, Alcohol, Sex (not graphic), Undressing in Public, Streaking, Cursing,
Mental Health Topics: Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, mentions Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and ADHD
This book was one that was recommended by a few book lists and I'll admit, the first time I picked this up, I struggled to get into it. On the second attempt, I took my time and wow, I do not regret it.
All the Bright Places is the story of Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. Meeting together at the bell tower at their school, the two become acquaintances through a mutual understanding and a secret. But all that evolves into so much more, and it's all Finch's fault.
Throughout this book, I struggled to remember that I was gonna be writing a review on this book, which I'd consider to be a good sign in itself. This book was so good that I lost the ability to separate writing from reality, and now that I'm blinking out of my book daze, I'm stunned by the story that I just read.
The plot was well-woven and fluid despite the dual-POVs that the story was written in, which only attests to the writer's skill. The characters were dynamic and believable and I could connect in such a heartfelt way to them. And while I could blame it on my ability to relate to Finch's and Violet's situation(s), I truly believe that this was only another testament to the author's ability to bring her characters to life on the page.
Overall, I'm not sure if the trigger warnings outweigh the impeccable writing though. Admittedly there were a lot of them, and while I loved the cuteness despite the heaviness, I struggled to connect the balance between the two and feel that it was a healthy read for me.
Yes, it's a brilliant mental health rep.
But yes, it does involve some suicidal thoughts and feelings of hopelessness that some readers may spiral because of.
So ultimately, it's up to you. Let me know if you decide to read this book! I'd love to know what you think!