When I find an author I enjoy, I usually end up reading a few of their other books back to back. In this case, I stumbled upon Nicola Yoon via Book of the Month. The Sun is Also a Star was one of their December 2016 picks, and upon reading the description, has been on my To-Read list ever since. I have a soft spot in my heart for Young Adult novels, as I’m sure you could have guessed. OK, so let’s talk about Nicola Yoon’s two novels and what makes this author special.
The Sun is Also a Star
Here’s the GR description, because it’s too yummy not to share:
Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?
This was a fun and truly special story. If you’re into fate, destiny, science, and all things data related — it would be hard not to love this book. Even secondary characters were special and added to the central plot line. I did get Eleanor and Park vibes, but a more elevated and grownup version.
Everything, Everything
Maddy has a rare disease, she can’t leave her house, and hasn’t left her house for seventeen years. One day, a new family moves in across the street. Maddy locks eyes with Olly, a tall and handsome boy, and realizes instantly she’s going to fall for him.
It was a really cute story. While reading to it, I got The Fault in Our Stars blended with Tell Me Three Things vibes, but in all the good ways. Everything, Everything was pretty unrealistic, but if you can get over some of that, it was adorable watching young teenage love blossom and develop over text and email. Does it bring you back to junior year chatting away at AIM for hours and hours with that handsome and hilarious boy from health class — or is it just me?
Everything, Everything was released in theaters May 2017. It got pretty shitty reviews according to Rotten Tomatoes (46%) and IMDb (6.4/10). I totally agree, it didn’t translate well on-screen. I had to turn it off 35 minutes in…
AUDIOBOOK SHOUT OUT
I listened to both books via Audible, and I immediately realized that each of Nicola Yoon’s books were narrated by Bahni Turpin. Turpin is an AWESOME narrator, she brings so much life and passion to a character. Her pacing, inflection, emotion, attitude is just about everything you could ever ask for when you’re requesting someone reading you a book out loud. Turpin also narrated The Hate U Give, which was also incredible. I’m giving kudos to Bahni Turpin for bringing to life both of Nicola Yoon’s books to life!
VERDICT: READ!
If you’re looking for a YA or NA (ugh can someone please explain the difference between young-adult and new-adult books to me?!) I highly recommend both of Nicola Yoon’s novels!
Note: Everything, Everything is Nicola Yoon’s first novel, The Sun is Also a Star is her second. Though I reversed the order, because I read her second novel first, and happened to like it a bit better.