'"Mum - I want you to meet someone. This is Riley Rose. It's okay, we're not married." He turned to give me a beautiful smile. "We're just in deep like.'"

'I put on too much dead-red lipstick, drew a satanic star on Fleur's pillow, and then I walked through the drizzle to breakfast,  undaunted.'

 

Riley Rose gives zero fucks and I love it.

'It's a story of a wild girl and a ghost girl;

a boy who knew nothing

and a boy who thought he knew everything.

And it's about life and death and grief and romance.

All the good stuff.'

this book!

thank you, edelweiss!

What expectations I had for this weren't high enough. Loved.

Everything Beautiful is the type of solid novel that has no apparent flaws - its pacing is perfect, the humor spot-on, the character growth remarkable, the romance swoon-worthy - and yet it is somehow underwhelming. I blame the hype. Quite thankfully, when you take away the immense build-up towards this novel and the reverent fans of Simmone Howell, Everything Beautiful is still snarky, enjoyable, and the perfect summer-time read: sweet, fun, and one that leaves a lasting impression. Riley Rose, a heroine who isn't a model, doesn't have a slim figure, and loves her body for what it is, is sent to a religious summer camp (don't worry, this book isn't every preachy when it comes to religion) when her father and his girlfriend decide they can't cope with her anymore. Riley lost her mother and is still grieving, but she hides this under a facade of sarcasm and bad behavior. One of the best aspects of this novel is, hands-down, Riley herself. Not only is her narration compulsively readable, but she isn't afraid of herself or being herself, which is so refreshing in a genre where every novel seems to be about coming to terms with yourself instead of your life.Another absolutely remarkable aspect of the book is the friendships and strong bonds. Although not all the secondary characters were as well fleshed-out as I'd have liked them to be, only because the book was so short, they were all three-dimensional and the impact they had on each other was touching. Dylan, though, is my favorite character in the book; an old camper, a popular guy, but now one stuck in a wheelchair. Against all odds, Dylan and Riley wind up being perfect for one another and their romance is gradual, stunning, and oh-so-perfect in a completely awkward and realistic way. Howell isn't afraid to touch upon subjects such as sex which also goes to make this one of the few sex-positive - and sexually positive - novels I've read in YA. If there are any flaws in this novel it is that the ending is not the drive-the-punch-home type of conclusion I wanted. Everything Beautiful reads as a simple story of friendship and love, but not one of grief or further emotional connection. Ultimately, I felt this book lacked the impact I wanted it to have to be a better novel. Nevertheless, the good obviously outweighs the bad and at the end of the day, I have to admit that I am clamoring for another Howell read, despite my disappointment.