All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven – review

‘Warning: You might need to grab a box of tissues before you start reading this book!’

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is a heartbreaking book about mental illness and its powerful effects on the person suffering from it, and the people around them.

Finch and Violet meet on top of the bell tower at school. They both consider jumping off, but save one another from doing so. Finch is suicidal while Violet suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Finch persuades Violet to be his partner for their U.S. Geography ‘Wander Indiana’ school project, dragging her away from the comfort of her clique: the popular kids.

They explore every inch of Indiana and see everything it has to offer before they have to graduate. Finch teaches Violet how to live when all he wants to do is die.

The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Finch and Violet. I really liked this format because it allowed me to get inside their heads and know what they were thinking.

I really liked the character of Finch because he was different and spontaneous. You never knew what to expect from him. And I connected with Violet because we both share a love of writing.

I really enjoyed reading about all the different places they traveled to in Indiana. Now I want to go and explore Indiana too. I also want to explore my hometown and find out all it has to offer.

The book explores heavy adult themes. I thought the author dealt with these adult themes profoundly and made them understandable for a Young Adult audience. I would have liked a happier ending, but I understand why the author ended the book this way. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Warning: You might need to grab a box of tissues before you start reading this book!

I recommend this book to anyone who is 15 years and older and wants to read a romance which explores heavy themes.

• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
  

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