Darlene's Book Nook: #Audiobook #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon @NicolaYoon @LLAudiobooks

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

#Audiobook #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon @NicolaYoon @LLAudiobooks

TITLE: Everything Everything

AUTHOR: Nicola Yoon

NARRATORS: Bahni Turpin and Robbie Daymond

PUBLISHER: Listening Library

PUBLICATION DATE: September 1, 2015

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook

LENGTH: 6 hrs and 44 mins

GENRE: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

ISBN: 9781101916407

Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. So allergic, in fact, that she has never left the house in all of her seventeen years. But when Olly moves in next door, and wants to talk to Maddie, tiny holes start to appear in the protective bubble her mother has built around her. Olly writes his IM address on a piece of paper, shows it at her window, and suddenly, a door opens. But does Maddie dare to step outside her comfort zone?

Everything, Everything is about the thrill and heartbreak that happens when we break out of our shell to do crazy, sometimes death-defying things for love.

MY REVIEW:

When I read the synopsis for this book, I immediately thought of that movie from the 70s starring John Travolta called The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. Yoon's story is one in reverse, with the girl that is trapped in the bubble.

Madeline has lived in isolation for 18 years. She suffers from a rare disorder that compromises her immune system, making it impossible for her to live in the real world. Her home has an airlock and anyone going into or out of the home must submit to a decontamination process to kill any germs they may be harbouring. The only ones that Madeline has any contact with are her mom and her nurse.

When a new family moves in next door, Madeline watches them from her window. There is a teenage boy, Olly, who Madeline tries to ignore but finds that impossible. He gives her his instant messaging address, and they begin to communicate online.

I really enjoyed how the relationship between Madeline and Olly blossomed and unfolded. I loved Nurse Carla! She sounds so sweet and caring, and I love how she tried to make up for Madeline's captivity. I was absolutely stunned by the ending, because I had no idea that was coming! That totally took me by surprise.

This was my first read by this author, and I very much enjoyed her debut. I also want to read her sophomore novel, The Sun is Also a Star.

I actually had no idea that this book was adapted to film in 2017 until after I read the book, and I have requested the DVD from the library and will be watching it.

Bahni Turpin and Robbie Daymond dually narrated this story from both Madeline's and Olly's points of view. I love the dual narration because I think it helps the reader to connect with the characters on a deeper level. I thought both narrators were well suited to the characters, and I listened to 75% of this audiobook in one go while painting my daughter's bedroom. Here is a sample of the narration:

MY RATING: