Beautiful, Beautiful

Beautiful, beautiful. Read. This. Book.

I'm not sure exactly how I came across this book. I don't know why I don't remember that; I usually

do. I do know that within minutes of reading what EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING is about, I ordered it. I had to wait a little bit to read it because I was reading something else at the time. That was difficult to do because I was anxious to read Nicola Yoon's first book. I really sounded GOOD.

The book lived up to the hype I'd put on it. In all serious, you NEED to read EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. For a first book, Nicola Yoon has knocked it out of the ballpark. I started the book around 8:00-ish and finished it right at midnight--of the same day. I could NOT put the book down. 

As I was reading Maddy's story, I was struck by how much we neglect to appreciate LIFE--being able to live relatively "normal" lives out in the world--seeing the beauty of God's creation on a daily basis--breathing fresh air--going where we want to go when we want to go (for the most part)--being able to touch, hug, hold, or kiss our loved ones--and so on and so on. Maddy is stuck inside her super-clean home every single day and risks certain death if she so much as steps outside or if someone enters her home without being decontaminated.

Wow. What a horrible way to live, but Maddy takes it all in stride--mostly...until the day her new neighbors move in next door and she is irresistibly drawn to the boy dressed all in black who climbs like a monkey. Now Maddy wants a life beyond her pristine white, CLEAN home and all hell breaks loose as a result....

I was so not prepared for the twist of this story. I pride myself on being able to figure out stories and not being surprised by twists. When I am unable to figure it out, that story/book automatically (typically) becomes one of my new favorite books! And EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING is now at the top of my list of all-time favorite books.

I hope I don't ruin it by saying that it's IF I STAY meets FINDING NEMO.....

Seriously. Read EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING.....