Hey there guys!!
I'm finally here with a review that is not part of a blog tour, so maybe now I can get back on track with reading AND reviewing! Because yes, I haven't stopped reading at all, but I've been really bad at writing reviews for all the books I've been reading (and loving!).
And the first review had to be for Girl Against The Universe, a book that is massively special in many ways, and it's become my most re-read book of 2016 already! From the first time I read it as a beta reader I fell in love with it so completely I kept on sending all sort of "feels filled" messages to Paula while I was reading and cursing her for making me tear up... Everytime I've started reading the book I've been unable to not read it cover to cover because it's the kinda book that grabs you and doesn't let you go!
This book is extra special because I am a character in the book, Nurse Pili here everyone, and I'm also mentioned in the acknowledgements and both those things still have me reeling and being overwhelemed and giddy, but those are not the reasons I give this one 5 stars, those would be responsible for some extra stars, but the book itself made me fall in love with it, hard!
Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Girl Against The Universe is the kind of contemporary that I can re-read time and again and love it as much or even than I did the first time!
Contemporary YA is not my go to genre, but since I'd read anything that Paula Stokes would wrote and her first contemporary was absolutely therapeutic for me (The Art of Lainey), GATU was a must read and it delivered in every which way.
It's what I call a "feel good" book, there's conflict, there's serious issues but there's no overabundance of drama and there's no unnecessarily added conflict. There's wonderful relationships, from family to friends to a developing new romantic relationship but none of them are really the focus or maybe all of them are. All the relationships are important in this books, and all of them help Maguire to finally get fighting to try and get better.
Mental health is an important issue to discuss and although not all cases are equally dire or grave, they all deserve attention and treatment. This book does a fantastic job on showing up different levels of mental health issues and different stages of acceptance of help and progress of treatment, as well as a positive depiction of therapy, along with the false starts, the progress, the doubts and the reality of humans "not being toasters that can be fixed".
Maguire had a lot of bad things happen to her and she came to think that she was cursed and was a danger to others, so she kept herself from interacting with the rest of the world as much as she could. The book starts with her first therapy sessions where she starts by being silent and thinking it's a waste of time, to start listening to what her therapist has to say and once she finally decides she want to try and face her fears, we see how she makes progress, how there are setbacks and doubts and we're there with her every step of the way.
The romance in this book is the kind that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and it adds to the "feel good" feeling of the book. And no, the romance doesn't mean the mental health issues are fixed by finding love or anything of the like. The characters do provide support and motivation for each other, first as friends and then as more, but they both have their own issues to face on their own, and they do. The relationship is not a crutch to make everything better.
This book managed to make me laugh, sigh, swoon, want to hug the characters, tear up more than once and upon finishing I procedeed to hug the book and have a contented smile on my face. I've re-read it quite a few times already, and it will be one of my go-to books when I'm on a slump and I need a favourite to make me want to read again!
Very much deserved 5 stars if not a few more!!
View all my reviews
I'm finally here with a review that is not part of a blog tour, so maybe now I can get back on track with reading AND reviewing! Because yes, I haven't stopped reading at all, but I've been really bad at writing reviews for all the books I've been reading (and loving!).
And the first review had to be for Girl Against The Universe, a book that is massively special in many ways, and it's become my most re-read book of 2016 already! From the first time I read it as a beta reader I fell in love with it so completely I kept on sending all sort of "feels filled" messages to Paula while I was reading and cursing her for making me tear up... Everytime I've started reading the book I've been unable to not read it cover to cover because it's the kinda book that grabs you and doesn't let you go!
This book is extra special because I am a character in the book, Nurse Pili here everyone, and I'm also mentioned in the acknowledgements and both those things still have me reeling and being overwhelemed and giddy, but those are not the reasons I give this one 5 stars, those would be responsible for some extra stars, but the book itself made me fall in love with it, hard!
Girl Against the Universe by Paula StokesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Girl Against The Universe is the kind of contemporary that I can re-read time and again and love it as much or even than I did the first time!
Contemporary YA is not my go to genre, but since I'd read anything that Paula Stokes would wrote and her first contemporary was absolutely therapeutic for me (The Art of Lainey), GATU was a must read and it delivered in every which way.
It's what I call a "feel good" book, there's conflict, there's serious issues but there's no overabundance of drama and there's no unnecessarily added conflict. There's wonderful relationships, from family to friends to a developing new romantic relationship but none of them are really the focus or maybe all of them are. All the relationships are important in this books, and all of them help Maguire to finally get fighting to try and get better.
Mental health is an important issue to discuss and although not all cases are equally dire or grave, they all deserve attention and treatment. This book does a fantastic job on showing up different levels of mental health issues and different stages of acceptance of help and progress of treatment, as well as a positive depiction of therapy, along with the false starts, the progress, the doubts and the reality of humans "not being toasters that can be fixed".
Maguire had a lot of bad things happen to her and she came to think that she was cursed and was a danger to others, so she kept herself from interacting with the rest of the world as much as she could. The book starts with her first therapy sessions where she starts by being silent and thinking it's a waste of time, to start listening to what her therapist has to say and once she finally decides she want to try and face her fears, we see how she makes progress, how there are setbacks and doubts and we're there with her every step of the way.
The romance in this book is the kind that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and it adds to the "feel good" feeling of the book. And no, the romance doesn't mean the mental health issues are fixed by finding love or anything of the like. The characters do provide support and motivation for each other, first as friends and then as more, but they both have their own issues to face on their own, and they do. The relationship is not a crutch to make everything better.
This book managed to make me laugh, sigh, swoon, want to hug the characters, tear up more than once and upon finishing I procedeed to hug the book and have a contented smile on my face. I've re-read it quite a few times already, and it will be one of my go-to books when I'm on a slump and I need a favourite to make me want to read again!
Very much deserved 5 stars if not a few more!!
View all my reviews
It is wonderful to see you around the blogosphere more, Pili! I will read this book eventually, I promise! This is a fantastic heart-felt review. I could feel the love :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll give it a try and like it LaLa!
DeleteAnd it feels good to be back blogging a bit more, I feel my motivation returning!
There's a character named after you?! THAT IS AWESOME PILI!!! *happy dance* I've heard such good things about this one so I was planning on reading it regardless, but now I simply must move it to the top of the list so I can meet Nurse Pili!
ReplyDeleteYESSSS!! You do that Jenny! Not only I'm a character in the book but it is awesome!
DeleteObviously I HAVE to read the book in which Nurse Pili is a character! That is so awesome for you, my friend, congrats! Also, it's always nice to be acknowledged.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing amazing things about this book so even though it's not my usual cup of tea, I'll defintiely be reading it soon!
Thank you Maja! I do hope you'll love the book!! =D
DeleteWow, illumicrate definitely looks awesome with so many bookish things and that sampler as well is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us Pili! It definitely looks like it was worth it.
ReplyDeleteYESSS! It's the only real option us EU people have so we're lucky it is really awesome!
DeleteSuch a beautiful review Pili, and it's super exciting that you're a character in the book too, good work lovely! I have been wanting to read this one for it's depictions of mental illness which is fantastic to hear. Can't wait to pick it up!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you'll pick it up soon and enjoy it, Jeann!
DeleteYAY for finally reviewing this book Pili, lol :D I love that you have read it so many times. <3 Hugs. And I LOVE that you were in it :D EEE! So jealous. <3 And happy for you :) Sadly, I did not love the book at all. Sigh. But I'm so glad you love it so much :) Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts about it sweetie. <3
ReplyDeleteI'm still giddy about being a character in a book! Thank you Carina!
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