*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: Every Exquisite Thing
Author: Matthew Quick
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 31, 2016
ISBN: 9780316379595
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Nanette O’Hare is an unassuming teen who has played the role of dutiful daughter, hardworking student, and star athlete for as long as she can remember. But when a beloved teacher gives her his worn copy of The Bugglegum Reaper–a mysterious, out-of-print cult classic–the rebel within Nanette awakens. As she befriends the reclusive author, falls in love with a young troubled poet, and attempts to insert her true self into the world with wild abandon, Nanette learns the hard way that rebellion sometimes comes at a high price.
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This unassuming cover contains a book that so honestly conveys the struggle with individuality vs. crowd mentality that teenagers face. Nanette O’Hare reads The Bubblegum Reaper, a cult classic that opens her eyes to rebellion and uniqueness, to being different and standing up for what one enjoys and believes in. She forms an intense bond with her first love, Alex, after reading this book, befriends the books author, and turns her whole life upside down as she begins to search for her true self. She quits the soccer team and abandons her hopes at getting into college on a scholarship. She loses her friends and begins to question everything.
This book is intelligent, witty, and tackles tough topics head on. Nanette winds up in therapy, her boyfriend in reform school. The story explores the discovery of individuality, and the price that uniqueness can sometimes pay. Rebellion, going against the grain, can sometimes go too far and can have disastrous results. But suppressing original thought can be equally as damaging. It’s about finding a balance between the two, knowing who you are and standing up for your own beliefs and interests, but not taking things to the extreme.
This book is full of hidden gems: strategic changes in person perspective, in depth introspection, unexpected twists. This is an excellent story of self-discovery, youth, and coming of age. A definitely must read!
Worn Pages and Ink 