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gabieowleyess 's review for:
We All Looked Up
by Tommy Wallach
Review from my blog Owl Eyes Reviews
4.5 stars.
I’ve had my eye on this book since the cover came out. I mean, come on, look at it. I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite covers EVER. It’s so simplistic but draws the reader (at least I’m assuming. It’s got me.) to the story beautifully. And it’s one of those cover that actually helps tell the story. I absolutely love it when a cover can do that. This wasn’t just a cover read though. I was first drawn to the cover but the the storyline pulled me in completely. I’ve realized that I really love books that possibly have characters that are going to choose to change their lives in one way or another. And, I know by saying that that I practically described like all books ever, but it’s different when it’s set up like this. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to articulate my feelings more in this review. I was super stoked about this book when I put it on my ‘to read’ list but that didn’t stop it from sitting in my ‘to read’ list for a long time. I actually forgot about it until one of my brothers friends told me that it was one of her favorite books ever. So, naturally I wanted to pick it up immediately! I’m really glad I picked it up when I did because it was the perfect book to begin 2016 with.
Since this book has been on my list for a while (but not as long as some, let me tell ya….), and I didn’t really read the summary again before picking it up so I kind of forgot that it had so many characters as main characters. A lot of books that advertise having lots of characters don’t necessarily follow all of the characters. It’s told from one character’s point of view. So I was expecting that. However, I was not expecting alternating chapters. *singing angels in the background* I FRICKING LOVE alternating chapters. Once I realized that this book had alternating chapters, it got just one more check mark in my book.
It’s been a really long time that I’ve stayed up late to read a book that has captivated me and this book did it for me. I cared about each and every single one of the characters. Peter the caring jock; Eliza the beautiful outcast; Anita the talented overachiever; and Andy the smart slacker. Each chapter was strategically placed and beautifully executed. There was never a place where I didn’t want the chapters to switch from one character to another because they all worked so well. I loved watching their stories cross. It was amazing.
With a book about the end of the world, most would think that you’d be able to predict what is going to happen at the end of this book. But, I can honestly say that I was surprised. To be honest this book kind of turned up at the end. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen the last fifty pages of the book. I was so satisfied with this ending that I read it like five times. I loved it because it wasn’t perfect. I found it superbly realistic.
On top of all that (!!!!!), this book mentioned a lot of music because two of the characters are musically talented. And guess what (!!!!) the author, Tommy Wallach, is a singer songwriter (YUP) and he has a CD that goes along with the book that features some of the music mentioned in the book as well as songs that the book inspired. I listened to it after I finished the book and it was absolutely beautiful. In my opinion, it fits the feel of the book wonderfully.
I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a book this much in a really long time. It was a really wonderful welcome into the new year. I’m hoping that this will be the first of many wonderful reads in 2016. :)
4.5 stars.
I’ve had my eye on this book since the cover came out. I mean, come on, look at it. I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite covers EVER. It’s so simplistic but draws the reader (at least I’m assuming. It’s got me.) to the story beautifully. And it’s one of those cover that actually helps tell the story. I absolutely love it when a cover can do that. This wasn’t just a cover read though. I was first drawn to the cover but the the storyline pulled me in completely. I’ve realized that I really love books that possibly have characters that are going to choose to change their lives in one way or another. And, I know by saying that that I practically described like all books ever, but it’s different when it’s set up like this. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to articulate my feelings more in this review. I was super stoked about this book when I put it on my ‘to read’ list but that didn’t stop it from sitting in my ‘to read’ list for a long time. I actually forgot about it until one of my brothers friends told me that it was one of her favorite books ever. So, naturally I wanted to pick it up immediately! I’m really glad I picked it up when I did because it was the perfect book to begin 2016 with.
Since this book has been on my list for a while (but not as long as some, let me tell ya….), and I didn’t really read the summary again before picking it up so I kind of forgot that it had so many characters as main characters. A lot of books that advertise having lots of characters don’t necessarily follow all of the characters. It’s told from one character’s point of view. So I was expecting that. However, I was not expecting alternating chapters. *singing angels in the background* I FRICKING LOVE alternating chapters. Once I realized that this book had alternating chapters, it got just one more check mark in my book.
It’s been a really long time that I’ve stayed up late to read a book that has captivated me and this book did it for me. I cared about each and every single one of the characters. Peter the caring jock; Eliza the beautiful outcast; Anita the talented overachiever; and Andy the smart slacker. Each chapter was strategically placed and beautifully executed. There was never a place where I didn’t want the chapters to switch from one character to another because they all worked so well. I loved watching their stories cross. It was amazing.
With a book about the end of the world, most would think that you’d be able to predict what is going to happen at the end of this book. But, I can honestly say that I was surprised. To be honest this book kind of turned up at the end. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen the last fifty pages of the book. I was so satisfied with this ending that I read it like five times. I loved it because it wasn’t perfect. I found it superbly realistic.
On top of all that (!!!!!), this book mentioned a lot of music because two of the characters are musically talented. And guess what (!!!!) the author, Tommy Wallach, is a singer songwriter (YUP) and he has a CD that goes along with the book that features some of the music mentioned in the book as well as songs that the book inspired. I listened to it after I finished the book and it was absolutely beautiful. In my opinion, it fits the feel of the book wonderfully.
I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a book this much in a really long time. It was a really wonderful welcome into the new year. I’m hoping that this will be the first of many wonderful reads in 2016. :)