I am full of emotions and tears of joy.

HOW WILL I SURVIVE UNTIL THE NEXT BOOK?!

I FELT the way this story unfolded and that’s just something not many authors can achieve. I see why this is on many best of lists.

Contemporary realistic fiction fans, this is for you.

First and foremost, if you're reading this book and you want someone to talk to, please reach out. It's heavy and triggering and sometimes all it takes is one bad idea to set off a chain of unfortunate actions.

I've grappled all day with writing this review and my thoughts on it. Bear with me while I explain why I gave this book 1 star and why it should cautiously be marketed in the YA market (and preferably not at all).

I just came off reading Gayle Forman's I was Here and Suzanne Young's The Program, which both start out with deaths by suicide. All the Bright Places starts off with hope.

Hope that quickly dies. This book is a countdown to the inevitable, which is different than what we usually experience in YA. I live and work in a community where suicidal ideation impacts one in five youths. We've experienced two suicide clusters, as well as several individual deaths by suicide, and all of us are terrified about keeping the youth safe. Completed suicides for youth are the second highest in the state.

Experts agree that the media has tremendous impact for those who are experiencing suicidal ideation.

Reports, depictions, and discussions of suicide can strengthen risk or protective factors, depending on how they are framed and disseminated.
-They can encourage hope or discourage people from seeking help.
-They can celebrate life or romanticize death.
-They can help people understand that suicide is preventable and mental illnesses are treatable or reinforce inaccurate beliefs that nothing can be done about these problems.

All the Bright Places:

-Discourages the youth from seeking help. The adults in the book do nothing but further traumatize the kids throughout.
-Romanticizes death. There's a literal countdown. Not kidding.
-Reinforces inaccurate beliefs that nothing can be done. Again, there is a severe lack of the adults acting on known depression and suicidal ideation. You go through the whole book feeling like the ending is inevitable. Not.Okay.

You want stories of hope? Check out Eight Stories Up: An Adolescent Chooses Hope Over Suicide. I understand that youth should have access and exposure to all stories and we should not censor what they are reading. I'm asking that if you know a youth who is reading this, please have a conversation with them. An actual conversation, where you talk about if they themselves experience suicidal ideation or know someone, there is hope and there is help. I would also recommend that they read the Author's Note prior to the start of the book (this book should open with the Note, honestly).

Oh, my gosh. This book was adorable with just the right amount of angst to keep me invested right through the end.

Ari has been told his whole life that some day he will take over his family bakery. This is not the life he wants.

Enter Hector, the cute boy who bake like there’s no tomorrow.

This book is such a slow burn and I am so here for it. I wanted them together the first glance on the page and yet there’s so much going on here. Hector loves to bake, Ari wants to get away from it. These boys are so soft and I am here for it.

I adored the art in this book. The line work is so clean and the monochrome blue just presents beautifully. Expressions come across clearly and the art enhances and tells much of the story.

Also I spent this whole book hungry and immediately wanted to make the recipe in the back of the book. Dang not having starter!

I loved this debut but am not feeling the shaming language the author uses in the description for her second book. Substance use disorders are a health concern we should work holistically toward, not shame. Will no longer support Sarah going forward.

——

A modern day Romeo and Juliet set in actual historical tension and minus the tragic death? I.AM.IN.

I loved watching Sarah’s lead up to release, showcasing the actual walls of Belfast and the community itself. Her photos and narrative helped set the tone for the story: two communities divided not only by their different ideals, but by a literal wall designed to help keep the peace.

And I think we all have some feelings about walls and the reality of what they bring.

The story could simply be two star-crossed lovers living on opposite sides of the wall but it is not. It is a look at the history and violence that created a need for the wall alongside these fictitious characters’ lives. To say I was captivated is an understatement.

I also appreciate that Sarah explored the complexity of the cultural divide between Fiona and Danny. She’s created characters that will long live in my heart!

It meets D&D with a side of Stranger Things. I picked this up after deciding to read the Goodreads Best Of picks this year and it unexpectedly became a fav!

The Jubilee art and story were my favs and I immediately picked up Aero after reading!

I picked this up 3x trying to connect but it just never happened.

Damnit, Wendy. Why are you so good?!