Jennifer Niven's All the Bright Places: A Heartbreaking and beautiful novel about grief and redemption.

All the bright places are one of my top favorite books is Jennifer Niven’s first Young Adult novel that explores mental illness, love, and grief. 

Theodore Finch or ‘freak’ (as he is commonly called) is an awkward young man who -in his spare time, only thinks about ways to end himself. When Violet Markey, a grieving student, emerges at the school bell tower one day, it's unclear who saves whose life. Violet and Finch's lives will be irrevocably changed by this one encounter which will take them on an extraordinary, yet the heartbreaking journey of love, life, and self-discovery.

To be honest, before I had even sat down to read a copy of “All the Bright Places”, its sad element drew me in and I felt compelled to read. I was surprised to find myself turning page after page till I reached the end of this book.

All the Bright Places, very beautifully, yet bluntly highlights the plight of bipolar patients. Unlike several other novels in the genre, it does not attempt to describe bipolar disease in beautiful and flowery terms, even though a patient's mind is usually swirling in fantasy worlds. The book ruthlessly exposes the truth of bipolar patients condition, who suffer from continual mood swings and are regularly dragged into a world of complex, terrible darkness.

Story Line:

All the Bright Places is a beautiful story about two depressed people who fall in love. It also looks at the stigma that surrounds mental health patients and how it impacts them. Jennifer Niven's writing style is uncomplicated, yet captivating. Furthermore, she cleverly ensures that these simple phrases of hers have a tremendous deal of meaning. If you delve into the depths, you will undoubtedly like every page of the book.

"I am carried off. We yield to this slow flood…. In and out, we are swept; …we cannot step outside its sinuous, it’s hesitating, it’s abrupt, it’s perfectly encircling walls.”

"You are all the colors in one, At full brightness."

“The thing I realize is, that it’s not what you take, it’s what you leave.”

I've always been a fan of stories told in the first person. The alternate viewpoints of Finch and Violet provide a better understanding of their characters, background, and evolution, making it easy to empathize with them. It's not difficult to see yourself in the character's shoes. Their distinct voices provide insight into what they are going through.

The author writes so wonderfully in poetic words that she put me on an emotional roller coaster. The talks were made even more unsettling by the addition of literary references. Because it resonates and doesn't try too hard to be riveting. She developed characters that I didn't believe were just made up. They seemed like individuals you might easily get along with.

"We don't remember days, we remember moments"

Final Thoughts:

Some may not like the ending, but I understand why it was chosen. The message of the book became even more powerful as a result. We don't know what goes through the mind of someone suffering from depression or mental illness, so we shouldn't take it lightly. It's an easy story to follow. Some people succeed, while others fail. Some people struggle, while others give up. This book provides a valuable insight into the importance of being courteous toward others near to us who may be in a similar circumstance. I had a feeling I knew how the story would end, though I hoped it wouldn't. The journey to the conclusion is torturous but enlightening.

This is a terrific novel that is also heartrendingly honest. If you're seeking a wonderful book with no frills, go ahead and read this realistic novel about a girl who learns to live from a boy who wants to die.

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