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All the Forever Things
“How many times have you saved me?” I ask Bree.
She grins. “Don’t you mean how many times have we saved each other?”
Nothing is forever. Gabe knows that more than most girls. After all, she lives in a funeral home (it’s the family business), and she gets that everything in the world dies eventually – people, rumors, fashion trends, the nickname “Graveyard Gabe.” But her best friend, Bree, has been a constant in her life; it’s always been the two of them together. Until Bree starts seeing a guy who stands for everything Gabe thought they were against. How could Bree change her mind and go for someone like Bryce Johnson?
Now Gabe doesn’t know who her friend is anymore. And the only person who seems to have time for her is Hartman, the new guy, who is somehow not weirded out by the funeral home stuff (well, a little). Still, Gabe doesn’t want to lose her mind over a guy the way Bree has, so she holds back.
But a very strange prom night (driving the family hearse instead of a limo) will change what Gabe knows about friendship, love, life, and everything that comes after – forever and otherwise.
She grins. “Don’t you mean how many times have we saved each other?”
Nothing is forever. Gabe knows that more than most girls. After all, she lives in a funeral home (it’s the family business), and she gets that everything in the world dies eventually – people, rumors, fashion trends, the nickname “Graveyard Gabe.” But her best friend, Bree, has been a constant in her life; it’s always been the two of them together. Until Bree starts seeing a guy who stands for everything Gabe thought they were against. How could Bree change her mind and go for someone like Bryce Johnson?
Now Gabe doesn’t know who her friend is anymore. And the only person who seems to have time for her is Hartman, the new guy, who is somehow not weirded out by the funeral home stuff (well, a little). Still, Gabe doesn’t want to lose her mind over a guy the way Bree has, so she holds back.
But a very strange prom night (driving the family hearse instead of a limo) will change what Gabe knows about friendship, love, life, and everything that comes after – forever and otherwise.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2017
10 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Jolene Perry
47 books853 followersHiker. Occasional Yogi. Equestrian. Couch potato. Music lover. Mediocre guitar player. Sailor. Tailor. Home body. Traveler. Enjoys suffering from being interested in everything. Owner, editor and teaacherr at Waypoint Author Academy. (www.waypointauthors.com)
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I only rate books I loved.
Also.
I only rate books I loved.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 8, 2017
(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to Albert Whitman & Company and NetGalley.)
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl who lived at a funeral home.
Gabriella came across as a quite normal sort of girl, even if she did like to play up the whole funeral-home thing by dressing like Wednesday Adams. She did seem to really love her best friend Bree though, and continued to try and look out for her, even when Bree didn't want her to. Bree on the other hand didn't seem to take Gabriella's feelings into account much at all, and only really seemed interested in her new boyfriend.
The storyline in this was about Gabriella living at the funeral home where her parents worked, and about her best friend Bree who was dating a boy who Gabriella didn't like. We also got a bit of romance between Gabriella and a boy called Hartman, but mostly the story was about Gabriella's dislike of Bree's boyfriend, and the rift that caused in their relationship. What was weird though was the way that Gabriella and her friends had so much access to the dead bodies! Surely that isn't right?!
The ending to this was quite surprising, and certainly shook things up a bit! I can't say that I really cared all that much about the characters affected by the accident though.
6 out of 10
"Wanna guess?" He grins.
I glance at the man's face, a little grayish now, but it will pink pretty quickly once the embalming fluid fills his veins.
The man is older, but not super old. About ten years older than my dad and pretty overweight. "Heart attack?"
This was a YA contemporary story about a girl who lived at a funeral home.
Gabriella came across as a quite normal sort of girl, even if she did like to play up the whole funeral-home thing by dressing like Wednesday Adams. She did seem to really love her best friend Bree though, and continued to try and look out for her, even when Bree didn't want her to. Bree on the other hand didn't seem to take Gabriella's feelings into account much at all, and only really seemed interested in her new boyfriend.
The storyline in this was about Gabriella living at the funeral home where her parents worked, and about her best friend Bree who was dating a boy who Gabriella didn't like. We also got a bit of romance between Gabriella and a boy called Hartman, but mostly the story was about Gabriella's dislike of Bree's boyfriend, and the rift that caused in their relationship. What was weird though was the way that Gabriella and her friends had so much access to the dead bodies! Surely that isn't right?!
The ending to this was quite surprising, and certainly shook things up a bit! I can't say that I really cared all that much about the characters affected by the accident though.
6 out of 10
June 7, 2017
“All the Forever Things” is a unique book that deals with deep issues in a sensitive and entertaining way.
I think every young adult or adult who is/was an outcast will be able to relate to “Graveyard Gabe,” even if your family does not own a funeral home. The story is bittersweet and touches on friendship, embracing who we are, first loves, forgiveness, and death. Somehow this is all put together in a way that hurts at times but is funny and entertaining at others.
I recommend “All the Forever Things” for upper middle graders through adults who are looking for a good young adult novel that is different from the norm.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
I think every young adult or adult who is/was an outcast will be able to relate to “Graveyard Gabe,” even if your family does not own a funeral home. The story is bittersweet and touches on friendship, embracing who we are, first loves, forgiveness, and death. Somehow this is all put together in a way that hurts at times but is funny and entertaining at others.
I recommend “All the Forever Things” for upper middle graders through adults who are looking for a good young adult novel that is different from the norm.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
July 29, 2017
This book was excruciatingly boring.
That might have had to do with the fact that... I read this over the course of three months. But the thing is, I didn't want to pick this up. It didn't pull me in, and there was little to no plot.
*whispers to book* this is your fault, not mine.
characters:
This was the one part that I could get behind. Bree and Gabe had fun personalities and I genuinely enjoyed reading from Gabe's voice and her point of view. However, as there was a break in Bree and Gabe's relationship, Gabe's personality went down.
things that Gabe did that make me not like her
She punched her best friend's boyfriend. Okay???
She refused to accept the fact that Bryce might be different than what she thinks. *coughs* there's this thing... it's called people changing.
- A couple of other things.
Bree was also unnecessarily rude to Gabe, and it annoyed me how she just abandoned her best friend because she didn't like her boyfriend.
plot:
Hahahahaha. What plot are you talking about?
This wasn't my type of book. It was one about changing and developing but... it was boring.
There was nothing that made me keep on wanting to read, nothing that made me want to turn the next page. I was completely fine putting my Kindle down and just leaving it there... for two months.
There's a small romantic plot, which was cute, but... it was also boring???
In the synopsis of this book, it mentions a night that changes their lives, but that happens at the END of the book, and the beginning was just the build-up to that, I suppose?
conclusion:
This wasn't my kind of book.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy of this book, which did not impact my review in any way.
That might have had to do with the fact that... I read this over the course of three months. But the thing is, I didn't want to pick this up. It didn't pull me in, and there was little to no plot.
*whispers to book* this is your fault, not mine.
characters:
This was the one part that I could get behind. Bree and Gabe had fun personalities and I genuinely enjoyed reading from Gabe's voice and her point of view. However, as there was a break in Bree and Gabe's relationship, Gabe's personality went down.
things that Gabe did that make me not like her
She punched her best friend's boyfriend. Okay???
She refused to accept the fact that Bryce might be different than what she thinks. *coughs* there's this thing... it's called people changing.
- A couple of other things.
Bree was also unnecessarily rude to Gabe, and it annoyed me how she just abandoned her best friend because she didn't like her boyfriend.
plot:
Hahahahaha. What plot are you talking about?
This wasn't my type of book. It was one about changing and developing but... it was boring.
There was nothing that made me keep on wanting to read, nothing that made me want to turn the next page. I was completely fine putting my Kindle down and just leaving it there... for two months.
There's a small romantic plot, which was cute, but... it was also boring???
In the synopsis of this book, it mentions a night that changes their lives, but that happens at the END of the book, and the beginning was just the build-up to that, I suppose?
conclusion:
This wasn't my kind of book.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy of this book, which did not impact my review in any way.
December 19, 2017
12/19/2017: In retrospect, I'm pretty neutral about this book. It had its moments where I identified with Gabe, Bree, and the others, but then there were other moments where I realized I wasn't invested in this story. I normally don't read contemporary--it isn't my go-to genre. I read it once in a while, and there are books like Me Before You, Eliza and Her Monsters, The Hate U Give, The Upside of Unrequited, Love is Both Particle and Wave, and many others that make part of my heart their home. Sadly, this book is not one of them. I agree with parts of my initial reaction: there were times that it was endearing and sweet. I wholeheartedly believe that it highlighted some truths of this world, and that it was often so realistic I wondered how much of the story was based on real life (just speculation)--the pacing of events, how certain events happened so suddenly, I couldn't help but feel that this was a real person's life unfolding.
But alas, it has not lingered in my mind as a story I think of often, if not at all, and it has faded quickly into the background of my mind.
***
Full review forthcoming.
I found this contemporary YA endearing, truth revealing, realistic, and often sweet. The tension that arises between best friends Gabe and Bree reminds me of a similar boy-induced tension between my best friend and me in high school. I will admit I was a little disconnected from the characters and the situation(s) at first, but that was much improved by the halfway point--that is where the story's stride hit perfect pacing and interconnectivity.
More to come at a later date. :)
But alas, it has not lingered in my mind as a story I think of often, if not at all, and it has faded quickly into the background of my mind.
***
Full review forthcoming.
I found this contemporary YA endearing, truth revealing, realistic, and often sweet. The tension that arises between best friends Gabe and Bree reminds me of a similar boy-induced tension between my best friend and me in high school. I will admit I was a little disconnected from the characters and the situation(s) at first, but that was much improved by the halfway point--that is where the story's stride hit perfect pacing and interconnectivity.
More to come at a later date. :)
February 5, 2017
The main character is selfish and immature. The most interesting thing about her was that her family runs a funeral home. I wish the author would have been a bit more original instead of making Gabriella a Wednesday Adams clone. The MC talks about how wonderful her relationship is with her BFF until her BFF does something she doesn't agree with (*gasp* dating a guy Gabriella doesn't like) and then she spends the rest of the book trying to prove how awful the guy is. The dialogue is overly simplistic, and the plot is nonexistent. I was so bored that I found myself skimming and wondering when it would be over.
March 2, 2018
What can I say about this novel? I’m sitting on the fence on this one as I found it frustrating and sad. How can individuals be so selfish and why do individuals lay down and let themselves be so exposed?
I found it frustrating that sixteen-year-old Gabe had only one true friend. I understand that living at a funeral home and having parents that own the home put a damper on things but there has to be a way to find friends. When Bree isn’t there for Gabe, she has nothing, a big fat ZERO and my heart broke for her. Then, when Bree started to turn into this evil person, I wanted to climb inside the novel and slap her because here was Gabe, acting like a little puppy: listening and following Bree like everything was fine and dandy when it wasn’t. I was fiercely gripping onto the novel, ready to tear it into tiny shreds! Come on Gabe! Smell the flowers, Bree is not concerned about you, she is concerned Bree and what is right in Bree’s world.
Oh, I was angry! Then, Bree introduced Hartman to Gabe. Hartman, the new boy at school. I thought Hartman was going to be Bree’s replacement as she bowed out of Gabe’s life. It got messy. This boy had baggage and Gabe wasn’t impressed with him. I wanted her to dump him but then again what else or who else did Gabe have? No one!
It was an emotional read for me. Some novels provoke an intense response from me and this one definitely did. I won a copy of this novel from Albert Whitman Teen in their Albert Whitman & Company YA gift set, thank you! This review is my own personal opinion.
I found it frustrating that sixteen-year-old Gabe had only one true friend. I understand that living at a funeral home and having parents that own the home put a damper on things but there has to be a way to find friends. When Bree isn’t there for Gabe, she has nothing, a big fat ZERO and my heart broke for her. Then, when Bree started to turn into this evil person, I wanted to climb inside the novel and slap her because here was Gabe, acting like a little puppy: listening and following Bree like everything was fine and dandy when it wasn’t. I was fiercely gripping onto the novel, ready to tear it into tiny shreds! Come on Gabe! Smell the flowers, Bree is not concerned about you, she is concerned Bree and what is right in Bree’s world.
Oh, I was angry! Then, Bree introduced Hartman to Gabe. Hartman, the new boy at school. I thought Hartman was going to be Bree’s replacement as she bowed out of Gabe’s life. It got messy. This boy had baggage and Gabe wasn’t impressed with him. I wanted her to dump him but then again what else or who else did Gabe have? No one!
It was an emotional read for me. Some novels provoke an intense response from me and this one definitely did. I won a copy of this novel from Albert Whitman Teen in their Albert Whitman & Company YA gift set, thank you! This review is my own personal opinion.
July 16, 2019
Girl's best friend dates a guy we'll call Bryce Crapbag, immediately becomes a terrible friend / general airhead overnight, whines that her best friend doesn't understaaaaaand how nice it is to feel wanted by a hot jock (bully), and just does that for about 200 pages. When the crux of your jacket summary relies on an event that happens in the last quarter of the story, that might be a sign you don't have enough plot*.
*
There is a cool setting in a family home that doubles as a funeral home + some interesting detail about working in one, and I liked Gabe as a character as well as her whole extended family enough that I am grudgingly giving this three stars (if only because it's not as bad as the books I usually give 2 stars), but Bree was so damned irritating I couldn't see why Gabe was so desperate to salvage the friendship. Just let her get wrecked.
*
There is a cool setting in a family home that doubles as a funeral home + some interesting detail about working in one, and I liked Gabe as a character as well as her whole extended family enough that I am grudgingly giving this three stars (if only because it's not as bad as the books I usually give 2 stars), but Bree was so damned irritating I couldn't see why Gabe was so desperate to salvage the friendship. Just let her get wrecked.
March 8, 2017
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
I can't say I loved the characters in this, but they weren't awful.
This wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't one that gripped me unfortunately. It struggled to keep my interest, and I felt quite bored for most of it. It didn't drag too badly though thankfully.
Overall, Not awful, but nowhere near as good as the other books I've read from this author.
I can't say I loved the characters in this, but they weren't awful.
This wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't one that gripped me unfortunately. It struggled to keep my interest, and I felt quite bored for most of it. It didn't drag too badly though thankfully.
Overall, Not awful, but nowhere near as good as the other books I've read from this author.
August 4, 2017
So good! Friendship books are my fave and Jolene just did so well with this one <3
May 23, 2017
When I saw a new book by Jolene Perry I knew I had to read it, even more so after reading the synopsis. The idea of the protagonist living at a funeral home really drew me in, and i had to know how this affected her and her social life
Gabe lives in funeral home that is run and owned by her parents, and once that knowledge is out tends to scare possible friends away. Her one and only friend in school is Bree, whilst everyone else either avoids her, or makes fun of her dress sense and her home. One person who instigates a lot of the teasing is Bryce. When a new boy arrives in school he is very interested in Gabe and her home, and soon Hartman and Gabe are firm friends.
All the Forever Things was a book I read pretty quickly. The plot as a whole drew me in, but also seeing the other small pieces made this an interesting read. Not only do we have Gabe living in a funeral home, her best friend starts to have feelings for the enemy and Gabe feels like she is losing Bree, who is quickly choosing boys over friends. the arrival of Hartman and his fascination with the funeral home adds another twist to the friendships, even more so with his reasons for wanting to be there. We see Gabe bullied, accepted, and shunned throughout the pages of the book from a variety of people, and it really made me think of how quick people are to judge or pass the blame to others if they don't like what they are seeing/hearing.
For me Gabe really stood out. She may not be accepted by all but she has her own sense of style and a very unique but stubborn personality. But she is also loyal to a fault, even if that means standing up for her friend and making some bad choices. Bree was someone who I had mixed feelings about, I thought she was easily swayed and followed along rather than making her own choices, especially if those choices weren't the 'norm'.
All the Forever Things was an emotional filled book. I laughed at the humour, I cried over the loss of others, but smiled at the moments of happiness. Its a book that you can enjoy and fall into easily, but also makes you think and question things.
Final Verdict
I really enjoyed reading All the Forever Things, I enjoyed seeing the characters grow throughout the pages, and also how things can be forgotten, even if it takes a tragedy to make this happen. This is a book that will stay with me for a while and is one I will read again.
Gabe lives in funeral home that is run and owned by her parents, and once that knowledge is out tends to scare possible friends away. Her one and only friend in school is Bree, whilst everyone else either avoids her, or makes fun of her dress sense and her home. One person who instigates a lot of the teasing is Bryce. When a new boy arrives in school he is very interested in Gabe and her home, and soon Hartman and Gabe are firm friends.
All the Forever Things was a book I read pretty quickly. The plot as a whole drew me in, but also seeing the other small pieces made this an interesting read. Not only do we have Gabe living in a funeral home, her best friend starts to have feelings for the enemy and Gabe feels like she is losing Bree, who is quickly choosing boys over friends. the arrival of Hartman and his fascination with the funeral home adds another twist to the friendships, even more so with his reasons for wanting to be there. We see Gabe bullied, accepted, and shunned throughout the pages of the book from a variety of people, and it really made me think of how quick people are to judge or pass the blame to others if they don't like what they are seeing/hearing.
For me Gabe really stood out. She may not be accepted by all but she has her own sense of style and a very unique but stubborn personality. But she is also loyal to a fault, even if that means standing up for her friend and making some bad choices. Bree was someone who I had mixed feelings about, I thought she was easily swayed and followed along rather than making her own choices, especially if those choices weren't the 'norm'.
All the Forever Things was an emotional filled book. I laughed at the humour, I cried over the loss of others, but smiled at the moments of happiness. Its a book that you can enjoy and fall into easily, but also makes you think and question things.
Final Verdict
I really enjoyed reading All the Forever Things, I enjoyed seeing the characters grow throughout the pages, and also how things can be forgotten, even if it takes a tragedy to make this happen. This is a book that will stay with me for a while and is one I will read again.
October 22, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC of ALL THE FOREVER THINGS in exchange for my honest review.
"Graveyard Gabe's" parents run a funeral parlor, hence the charming nickname. She doesn't mind being an outcast, as long as she has BFF Bree by her side. But when Bree breaks the cardinal "sisters before misters" rule by getting a popular boyfriend, Gabe is beyond hurt and angry. She's determined to prove that Bryce is a bad influence with the help of a new friend who is NOT her boyfriend.
Jolene Perry created a unique, interesting character in narrator Gabe and a authentic sounding, pleasant voice with sentences that flow smoothly. Unfortunately, I found Gabe to be incredibly self absorbed, jealous and selfish. I sympathized more with Bryce, the object of Gabe's chagrin. Readers are constantly told what a bad influence/guy he is, but never shown any behavior to back these claims.
I cringed at the open access Gabe and her had to the bodies in various stages of embalmment. I'm sure all kinds of code of ethics violations of the NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association) were written into the story, making me cringe at the thought of one of my loved ones having my cause of death as a joke between workers or someone dropping a cell phone in my casket while visiting me during a bout of insomnia. Surely Perry could have googled www.nfda.org to do some research.
Bottom line, I can't figure out why ALL FOREVER THINGS was written and a reason to recommend the book.
"Graveyard Gabe's" parents run a funeral parlor, hence the charming nickname. She doesn't mind being an outcast, as long as she has BFF Bree by her side. But when Bree breaks the cardinal "sisters before misters" rule by getting a popular boyfriend, Gabe is beyond hurt and angry. She's determined to prove that Bryce is a bad influence with the help of a new friend who is NOT her boyfriend.
Jolene Perry created a unique, interesting character in narrator Gabe and a authentic sounding, pleasant voice with sentences that flow smoothly. Unfortunately, I found Gabe to be incredibly self absorbed, jealous and selfish. I sympathized more with Bryce, the object of Gabe's chagrin. Readers are constantly told what a bad influence/guy he is, but never shown any behavior to back these claims.
I cringed at the open access Gabe and her had to the bodies in various stages of embalmment. I'm sure all kinds of code of ethics violations of the NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association) were written into the story, making me cringe at the thought of one of my loved ones having my cause of death as a joke between workers or someone dropping a cell phone in my casket while visiting me during a bout of insomnia. Surely Perry could have googled www.nfda.org to do some research.
Bottom line, I can't figure out why ALL FOREVER THINGS was written and a reason to recommend the book.
February 12, 2017
review to come
January 9, 2017
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the setting and the quirky characters as well as Gabe's slightly bizarre way of dealing with the dead people in her home (Vada from My Girl has nothing on Gabe ;).
However, I absolutely hated everything about her relationship with Bree, especially Bree herself -which made the whole crux of the story kind of difficult for me.
I enjoyed the setting and the quirky characters as well as Gabe's slightly bizarre way of dealing with the dead people in her home (Vada from My Girl has nothing on Gabe ;).
However, I absolutely hated everything about her relationship with Bree, especially Bree herself -which made the whole crux of the story kind of difficult for me.
April 13, 2017
Jolene Perry has yet to let me down with her writing and this is no different. However, I will go out on a limb and say that this is one of my FAVORITE books by her that I've read so far. This book is full of humor, sadness and characters that you can relate to. It really makes you look at losing a loved one so differently. Gabe works and lives in a funeral home that her parents run so she sees death all the time. It doesn't hold the sadness that it does for most. She has sort of become immune to it which is understandable it isn't until she meets a young man named Hartman who just lost his father that she starts to see things differently. Yes death is inevitable but just because someone dies doesn't mean they are gone forever because they will forever be a part of you meaning they are a forever thing. It was such a great thought that made me truly think. I lost my best friend when I was sixteen and I loved the idea that she will be a forever thing.
Gabe--she is a teenage girl that has a love for all things vintage. She now dresses similar to Wednesday Adams because of a kid teasing her during Jr. high about it since she lived in a funeral home. She has one friend named Bree and they bond over their love for vintage clothing. Gabe is so awesome, she is literally one of my favorite main character in a book now. She was immune to the idea of death but it did effect her more than she believed. She avoided having too many people in her life because she really feared losing them. In the end though she learned that she couldn't hide from everyone.
Hartman-- he is the teenage boy that comes into Gabe's life unexpectedly and makes her realize that she can't hide from everyone to avoid losing people. He has just moved to same town after losing his father suddenly. He also has a flare of vintage and when Bree starts to pull away from Gabe he because her only friend. Of course friendship can always lead to more.
Bree--is Gabe's one and only best friend. They bond over their love for vintage clothing but soon she finds herself drawn to the high school jock Bryce, the boy who made Gabe's life miserable for a portion of her life. He was the one that started the nickname for Gabe. The deeper she gets in with Bryce the more she pulls away from Gabe. Her family life leads her to make some questionable decisions.
By the end of the book a tragedy has hit making them all look at things differently and bringing Gabe and Bree back together. It was a book that I couldn't put down and it was just amazing. If you haven't read a book by Jolene Perry before due yourself a favor and start now!
Gabe--she is a teenage girl that has a love for all things vintage. She now dresses similar to Wednesday Adams because of a kid teasing her during Jr. high about it since she lived in a funeral home. She has one friend named Bree and they bond over their love for vintage clothing. Gabe is so awesome, she is literally one of my favorite main character in a book now. She was immune to the idea of death but it did effect her more than she believed. She avoided having too many people in her life because she really feared losing them. In the end though she learned that she couldn't hide from everyone.
Hartman-- he is the teenage boy that comes into Gabe's life unexpectedly and makes her realize that she can't hide from everyone to avoid losing people. He has just moved to same town after losing his father suddenly. He also has a flare of vintage and when Bree starts to pull away from Gabe he because her only friend. Of course friendship can always lead to more.
Bree--is Gabe's one and only best friend. They bond over their love for vintage clothing but soon she finds herself drawn to the high school jock Bryce, the boy who made Gabe's life miserable for a portion of her life. He was the one that started the nickname for Gabe. The deeper she gets in with Bryce the more she pulls away from Gabe. Her family life leads her to make some questionable decisions.
By the end of the book a tragedy has hit making them all look at things differently and bringing Gabe and Bree back together. It was a book that I couldn't put down and it was just amazing. If you haven't read a book by Jolene Perry before due yourself a favor and start now!
February 19, 2017
Gabriella Osborn's parents run a family business of being undertakers, of which Gabriella and her cousin help out at.
Gabriella's best friend Bree also does make-up on the dead there.
We learn about Gabe as she's known to everybody else and Bree's history of discovering boys and their shared passion of all things, vintage, dark, Gothic, Wednesday Addams style fashions and films.
Bryce the school jock ruined Gabe's first kiss but now he's dating Bree leaving her with new guy Hartman whom she's embarrassed herself in front of upon first meeting.
Throughout the book, Gabe and Bree become less friendly towards each other, no longer like sisters due to Bryce being hated by Gabe and Bree drinking, changing style and hanging out with the popular group more. Gabe finds herself drawn more to Hartman but tearing up inside over her feeling of unease over Bryce and Bree.
With Prom night here, Gabe is driving the popular group to prom only for the night to start off rough and only get worse resulting in a hospital stay for some of the group as well as a shocking event.
This book is super quirky and never have I ever read a book even an inkling like it with the setting and descriptions of the place and style of our main character. This book was sent to me for review by the publisher and it has been a pleasure to read it!
Gabriella's best friend Bree also does make-up on the dead there.
We learn about Gabe as she's known to everybody else and Bree's history of discovering boys and their shared passion of all things, vintage, dark, Gothic, Wednesday Addams style fashions and films.
Bryce the school jock ruined Gabe's first kiss but now he's dating Bree leaving her with new guy Hartman whom she's embarrassed herself in front of upon first meeting.
Throughout the book, Gabe and Bree become less friendly towards each other, no longer like sisters due to Bryce being hated by Gabe and Bree drinking, changing style and hanging out with the popular group more. Gabe finds herself drawn more to Hartman but tearing up inside over her feeling of unease over Bryce and Bree.
With Prom night here, Gabe is driving the popular group to prom only for the night to start off rough and only get worse resulting in a hospital stay for some of the group as well as a shocking event.
This book is super quirky and never have I ever read a book even an inkling like it with the setting and descriptions of the place and style of our main character. This book was sent to me for review by the publisher and it has been a pleasure to read it!
November 14, 2016
"Everything about this moment is familiar. The silent communication between Mom and Dad as they shift the casket into the best position for viewing. The bereaved's sighs, me sliding the soft soles of my shoes over the carpet, and the overpowering smell of condolences that have arrived from companies with names like flowers r us."
"From growing up in the funeral home her family runs, Gabriella knows that death is a part of life and nothing is forever. Yet Bree, her best friend, has been a constant; it's always been the two of them together against the world. But when Bree starts dating a guy the worst guy from from the ultra-popular world, suddenly she doesn't have time for Gabe anymore. Now the only one at school who wants to spend time with "Graveyard Gabe" is Hartman, the new guy, but Gabe, not wanting to lose her mind over a boyfriend the way Bree has has, holds back. It takes a very strange prom night (with the family hearse instead of a limo) for Gabe to truly fall for Hartman. But when she leaves the after-prom party with him, she's not there for Bree or for the deadly accident that happens that night. Bree survives, but will she and Gabe ever be able to rebuild their friendship?"
Let me start out by saying that I have mixed feelings about this novel. I enjoyed how Gabe had a complex relationship with death - she dresses in all black and lives and works in a funeral home! This novel is good, and is unique and very engaging. But, it has many flaws for me as a reader.
Gabe's perspective had all the typical girl vibes, but without chunks of heartbreaking drama. The main character herself, was half the character I thought she would end up being. Her dialogue seems immature to me, and the author robs the character and readers on what makes her interesting.
But, I did enjoy most of the book. I really enjoyed how the author wrote about the popular kids that Bree, and throughout the book Gabe, ends up hanging out with. So many YA book rely on these popular kids and the author definitely let the reader glide into the expectation.
Even though my opinion about this novel goes back and fourth, All the Forever Things is a change of pace and is worth a read.
I give this novel a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Special thanks to NetGalley/Albert Whitman & Company/AW Teen for the copy.
"From growing up in the funeral home her family runs, Gabriella knows that death is a part of life and nothing is forever. Yet Bree, her best friend, has been a constant; it's always been the two of them together against the world. But when Bree starts dating a guy the worst guy from from the ultra-popular world, suddenly she doesn't have time for Gabe anymore. Now the only one at school who wants to spend time with "Graveyard Gabe" is Hartman, the new guy, but Gabe, not wanting to lose her mind over a boyfriend the way Bree has has, holds back. It takes a very strange prom night (with the family hearse instead of a limo) for Gabe to truly fall for Hartman. But when she leaves the after-prom party with him, she's not there for Bree or for the deadly accident that happens that night. Bree survives, but will she and Gabe ever be able to rebuild their friendship?"
Let me start out by saying that I have mixed feelings about this novel. I enjoyed how Gabe had a complex relationship with death - she dresses in all black and lives and works in a funeral home! This novel is good, and is unique and very engaging. But, it has many flaws for me as a reader.
Gabe's perspective had all the typical girl vibes, but without chunks of heartbreaking drama. The main character herself, was half the character I thought she would end up being. Her dialogue seems immature to me, and the author robs the character and readers on what makes her interesting.
But, I did enjoy most of the book. I really enjoyed how the author wrote about the popular kids that Bree, and throughout the book Gabe, ends up hanging out with. So many YA book rely on these popular kids and the author definitely let the reader glide into the expectation.
Even though my opinion about this novel goes back and fourth, All the Forever Things is a change of pace and is worth a read.
I give this novel a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Special thanks to NetGalley/Albert Whitman & Company/AW Teen for the copy.
November 2, 2016
In many ways I enjoyed this story. While Gabe annoyed me at times (she is actually pretty clueless), I was able to forgive her this. After all the story is really about her finding her way through her flaws. In terms of ideas there is a quite a lot going on and I was pleased to see that Perry was not afraid to tackle the tricky subjects of death and the meaning of life. I liked the setting for the story (a funeral home) although I tend to feel that Perry settled for cliches in her depiction of this too much. In fact, the setting provided opportunities for some really gritty writing which would have matched the setting and the apparent quirkiness of the characters Bree and Gabe. What did work for me was the authenticity of the relationship between the girls. Of course teenage girls go relationship breakdowns which are every bit as traumatic as the author suggests. I didn't mind the overall plot. However, it was a little pedestrian and possibly more foreshadowing was required in the lead-up to the story climax. While this is a perfectly good novel, for me the technical aspects of Perry's writing failed to live up to the depth of the themes she was hoping to explore. Consequently, in the end, the entire story fell a bit flat for me.
June 19, 2017
The book was well written and the Hartman character was a decent guy. I liked the sentiment towards the end about how people last forever because we remember them. However I hated the best friend character, Bree. She was a garbage friend and she made me so mad for the entire book. The book tried to make me sympathetic for Bree in the end and it didn't really work. Also Bryce was awful and I was supposed to be sad about his fate and I was actually happy about it. So not my favorite book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2021
3.5 stars.
March 6, 2019
This was a YA contemporary about a teenage girl who grew up in a funeral home, who dresses in black vintage clothes, and who has no friends aside from her BFF Bree. The story is a little bit coming-of-age and a little bit romance (once a weird (but handsome) lanky stranger moves into town and starts going to her school). I have mixed feelings about this book, because it did some things really well, and some things felt ambiguous or confusing or unnecessarily frustrating.
The Good: I usually get distracted by present-tense writing, but this was pretty seamless. It's a hard way to write, so kudos to the author. Also, at times the story really transported me back to high school. The feelings, the confusion, the desperation to fit in, the way feelings can change between people lightning fast over the simplest issues. I was sympathetic to the main character, although she sometimes acted infuriatingly. I did get the feeling she was doing her best.
Also, there was some good foreshadowing and things that tied together well, which always feels good.
The Not-So-Good: One of my "forever things" was that I was forever getting distracted by the fact that Gabriella was called "Gabe." I got used to it by the very end, and I'm fine with male nicknames for females (heck, people call me James all the time), but as a reader trying to get into the story, it was confusing. ("Wait, who is this guy Gabe? Oh yeah, that is the female protagonist.") This might seem nit-picky and maybe it is, but it affected the way I absorbed the story.
Another thing is that I sometimes legit got confused about what was happening, because it just wasn't clear. Like, Gabe (Gabe, sigh) sneezed and then suddenly she was on the floor with a damaged nose and blood everywhere. Then we are told later that the "culprit" is a "stupid detector"—so okay, she ran into something. I understood what happened, but the order in which the information was revealed made things difficult. I don't know if this makes sense, but it happened more than once. I would get pulled out of the story just trying to figure out what had happened.
Speaking of which, I'm not a huge fan of female characters that are clumsy for no reason. Gabe is clumsy, but at least it doesn't get in her way too much.
Most of the time conversations flowed in a very real way, but sometimes I would have trouble following how characters got from point A to point B in their conversations.
The jock, Bryce, was the worst. And the best friend Bree was THE WORST. Just the fact that she completely abandoned her friend immediately for someone who had made her friend's life miserable since the eighth grade was pretty bad. By the end of the story I guess things worked out, but Bree acted like a total jerk, and I was mad at Gabe for not being able to just tell her best friend how and why she was acting like a jerk. I guess it was true to high school, but maddening to read.
Spoilers.
There were some things that were hinted at (or at least I thought) that were going to get fleshed out more, but then they didn't. First of all, ANGEL, the dude who worked at the funeral home that HAD CONVERSATIONS with the dead. I thought for sure when Bryce died that Gabe or Bree would get some sort of closure through him. Nope. He went on vacation at a very (in)convenient time.
Bree seemed like she was getting physical with Bryce, but then during the hearse ride to prom he mentioned wanting to "see at least one naked body tonight" and she looked sick and scared. So, what happened between them? And I thought there was a promise (a scary promise) of something that might happen, but it didn't. It was a little weird how she—and all of Bryce's friends—knew he was a spoiled "a**hole" (this book was fond of that word), but they didn't care.
Why the heck was Gabe's cousin Matthew hiding Bree at his house the night she disappeared? There was a lot about Matthew that I didn't know, he was a mysterious dude. He lives with his grandma, who is a chain-smoking dirty-mouthed crazy lady, and we are told he is weird and has weird habits, but then we just see that he embalms the bodies at Gabe's parent's funeral home. That's a job right? Not a weird quirk? Also, he seemed weird about Bree. Did he like her? If so, isn't that illegal because he is an adult and she is a teenager? Also, could he go to jail for letting her sleep in his house when everyone was looking for her and couldn't find her?
Hartman. He was the love interest, but he was ghosting Gabe for a big part of the book. I mean, I guess he had excuses, but really he couldn't find like a few minutes in his day to send Gabe a reassuring or friendly text? Or have a conversation over the phone? I feel like when you are going through a lot, that is when you need to talk to people most...does he not work like most people? Other than the ghosting he was pretty great, so I'll forgive it.
Okay, I'm done. Sorry the review was so long. Now that I write, I have more to say about books that don't quite work in some areas.
The Good: I usually get distracted by present-tense writing, but this was pretty seamless. It's a hard way to write, so kudos to the author. Also, at times the story really transported me back to high school. The feelings, the confusion, the desperation to fit in, the way feelings can change between people lightning fast over the simplest issues. I was sympathetic to the main character, although she sometimes acted infuriatingly. I did get the feeling she was doing her best.
Also, there was some good foreshadowing and things that tied together well, which always feels good.
The Not-So-Good: One of my "forever things" was that I was forever getting distracted by the fact that Gabriella was called "Gabe." I got used to it by the very end, and I'm fine with male nicknames for females (heck, people call me James all the time), but as a reader trying to get into the story, it was confusing. ("Wait, who is this guy Gabe? Oh yeah, that is the female protagonist.") This might seem nit-picky and maybe it is, but it affected the way I absorbed the story.
Another thing is that I sometimes legit got confused about what was happening, because it just wasn't clear. Like, Gabe (Gabe, sigh) sneezed and then suddenly she was on the floor with a damaged nose and blood everywhere. Then we are told later that the "culprit" is a "stupid detector"—so okay, she ran into something. I understood what happened, but the order in which the information was revealed made things difficult. I don't know if this makes sense, but it happened more than once. I would get pulled out of the story just trying to figure out what had happened.
Speaking of which, I'm not a huge fan of female characters that are clumsy for no reason. Gabe is clumsy, but at least it doesn't get in her way too much.
Most of the time conversations flowed in a very real way, but sometimes I would have trouble following how characters got from point A to point B in their conversations.
The jock, Bryce, was the worst. And the best friend Bree was THE WORST. Just the fact that she completely abandoned her friend immediately for someone who had made her friend's life miserable since the eighth grade was pretty bad. By the end of the story I guess things worked out, but Bree acted like a total jerk, and I was mad at Gabe for not being able to just tell her best friend how and why she was acting like a jerk. I guess it was true to high school, but maddening to read.
Spoilers.
There were some things that were hinted at (or at least I thought) that were going to get fleshed out more, but then they didn't. First of all, ANGEL, the dude who worked at the funeral home that HAD CONVERSATIONS with the dead. I thought for sure when Bryce died that Gabe or Bree would get some sort of closure through him. Nope. He went on vacation at a very (in)convenient time.
Bree seemed like she was getting physical with Bryce, but then during the hearse ride to prom he mentioned wanting to "see at least one naked body tonight" and she looked sick and scared. So, what happened between them? And I thought there was a promise (a scary promise) of something that might happen, but it didn't. It was a little weird how she—and all of Bryce's friends—knew he was a spoiled "a**hole" (this book was fond of that word), but they didn't care.
Why the heck was Gabe's cousin Matthew hiding Bree at his house the night she disappeared? There was a lot about Matthew that I didn't know, he was a mysterious dude. He lives with his grandma, who is a chain-smoking dirty-mouthed crazy lady, and we are told he is weird and has weird habits, but then we just see that he embalms the bodies at Gabe's parent's funeral home. That's a job right? Not a weird quirk? Also, he seemed weird about Bree. Did he like her? If so, isn't that illegal because he is an adult and she is a teenager? Also, could he go to jail for letting her sleep in his house when everyone was looking for her and couldn't find her?
Hartman. He was the love interest, but he was ghosting Gabe for a big part of the book. I mean, I guess he had excuses, but really he couldn't find like a few minutes in his day to send Gabe a reassuring or friendly text? Or have a conversation over the phone? I feel like when you are going through a lot, that is when you need to talk to people most...does he not work like most people? Other than the ghosting he was pretty great, so I'll forgive it.
Okay, I'm done. Sorry the review was so long. Now that I write, I have more to say about books that don't quite work in some areas.
November 9, 2016
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of All the Forever Things!
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I found the general story-line and characters to be appealing. I like that Gabe had a complex relationship with death - I mean she dresses like Wednesday Addams and lives/works in a funeral home/mansion. I liked that she had a friend with a bad home life. This is good, this is unique and engaging. On the other hand, there were quite a few drawbacks for me as a reader. Tiny bits and pieces that dampened my enjoyment.
Gabe's perspective had all the My Girl vibes, but without the heartrending drama. Gabe herself was 3/4 of the character I had hoped she would be. Her worries and dialogue are immature enough that it sort of starts to rob the character of what makes her interesting. I guess I wanted her to live up to the intriguing and unusual Wednesday Addams dressing, but she repeatedly lacks the backbone that I hope she'll have - especially when it comes to Bree. Speaking of which, I abhorred Bree. I think her behavior was mean-spirited and rude. Sure there are people, specifically young women, who go through what Bree has had to - however, I'm not a big fan of portraying them in this manner. Because her behavior seemed so petty, I felt as a reader that her character was lacking real likability and a little depth. You kind of get the impression, and this may very well be the authors intention, that Bree uses her emotional maturity gained from her rough upbringing to manipulate Gabe - even at the end when they've reunited.
There are (of course!) parts I did like. The story itself is definitely unique, and even with my character reserves, you can't help but love Gabe. There are cringe-worthy scenes, but in a good way. There is evidence of character growth in Gabe, which I loved. I also really, really loved how the author wrote some of the "popular" kids that Bree, and subsequently Gabe, ends up hanging out with. I think so many books rely on the cliché of the high school royalty, and this author totally let the reader fall into that expectation via Gabe's point-of-view and then did the awesome thing of completely challenging that and allowing her to see them (and possibly her own relationships) differently. I would totally insert a clapping emoji here for that!
As for the love interest, Hartman is kind of unexciting. You understand his necessity for the story, especially in regards to Gabe's own personal growth, but you aren't left hoping that he and Gabe go sailing off into the sunset together. His ex-girlfriend issue kind of feels like it was meant to be important, but came across as a side-note to partly explain for him going MIA. Like those Soap Opera's where an actress gets pregnant so they explain her absence by saying "oh so-and-so is visiting her sister/fell down the laundry chute". He carries his own story-line, but something about it feels downplayed - which is bizarre because he has experienced something more dramatic than our MC really.
All in all, All the Forever Things, is definitely a change of pace in contemporary YA. The main character is refreshingly different and despite my minor reservations, it's certainly worth a read.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand I found the general story-line and characters to be appealing. I like that Gabe had a complex relationship with death - I mean she dresses like Wednesday Addams and lives/works in a funeral home/mansion. I liked that she had a friend with a bad home life. This is good, this is unique and engaging. On the other hand, there were quite a few drawbacks for me as a reader. Tiny bits and pieces that dampened my enjoyment.
Gabe's perspective had all the My Girl vibes, but without the heartrending drama. Gabe herself was 3/4 of the character I had hoped she would be. Her worries and dialogue are immature enough that it sort of starts to rob the character of what makes her interesting. I guess I wanted her to live up to the intriguing and unusual Wednesday Addams dressing, but she repeatedly lacks the backbone that I hope she'll have - especially when it comes to Bree. Speaking of which, I abhorred Bree. I think her behavior was mean-spirited and rude. Sure there are people, specifically young women, who go through what Bree has had to - however, I'm not a big fan of portraying them in this manner. Because her behavior seemed so petty, I felt as a reader that her character was lacking real likability and a little depth. You kind of get the impression, and this may very well be the authors intention, that Bree uses her emotional maturity gained from her rough upbringing to manipulate Gabe - even at the end when they've reunited.
There are (of course!) parts I did like. The story itself is definitely unique, and even with my character reserves, you can't help but love Gabe. There are cringe-worthy scenes, but in a good way. There is evidence of character growth in Gabe, which I loved. I also really, really loved how the author wrote some of the "popular" kids that Bree, and subsequently Gabe, ends up hanging out with. I think so many books rely on the cliché of the high school royalty, and this author totally let the reader fall into that expectation via Gabe's point-of-view and then did the awesome thing of completely challenging that and allowing her to see them (and possibly her own relationships) differently. I would totally insert a clapping emoji here for that!
As for the love interest, Hartman is kind of unexciting. You understand his necessity for the story, especially in regards to Gabe's own personal growth, but you aren't left hoping that he and Gabe go sailing off into the sunset together. His ex-girlfriend issue kind of feels like it was meant to be important, but came across as a side-note to partly explain for him going MIA. Like those Soap Opera's where an actress gets pregnant so they explain her absence by saying "oh so-and-so is visiting her sister/fell down the laundry chute". He carries his own story-line, but something about it feels downplayed - which is bizarre because he has experienced something more dramatic than our MC really.
All in all, All the Forever Things, is definitely a change of pace in contemporary YA. The main character is refreshingly different and despite my minor reservations, it's certainly worth a read.
April 21, 2020
I received a copy from Netgalley.
I came across this one in my Netgalley TBR from a few years back and started reading it, not remembering anything about what it was about or why I had requested it. I think it must have appealed to the ‘Six Feet Under’ fan in me.
The main character Gabe (short for Gabriella) parents’ own a funeral home in a small town, she lives there with her younger sister, has an eccentric aunt, a BFF and a love of all things vintage. One boy made a joke about her being Wednesday Addams so she makes a point of making herself look like Wednesday (which made me like her even more). The novel starts with Gabe and her BFF paired for a school project with ultra popular guy Bryce and cool new guy Hartman. Bryce was the one who for years compared Gabe Wednesday Addams and also nicknamed her Graveyard Gabby which has stuck with her. He also ruined her first kiss with a boy she really liked. So Gabe is less than thrilled.
Even worse when her BFF Bree starts to click with Bryce and before long they’re dating. Gabe is mortified, and understandably so. She’s struggling to adjust when she’s so used to having Bree to herself, and this the jerk who made her an outcast. So naturally it’s completely logical that she wouldn’t be thrilled. Yet she’s willing to at least try for her friend’s sake. It’s not easy. Having been in a similar position personally, when a friend you’ve had for years starts ignoring you for someone else – it’s not easy. So Gabe’s reactions and ways of handling this felt very authentic and believable.
She’s grumpy and annoyed, especially when Bree starts ignoring her texts and calls, ditching her to hang out with Bryce and his popular friends and their girlfriends who both Bree and Gabe have always dismissed as airheads. Bree’s family situation is complex, and it doesn’t help that Gabe is moaning about her own responsibilities. She does some work in the family business and has to pick up her sister from the eccentric aunt. Normal things. Yet she doesn’t understand why Bree gets mad when she whines about it.
While Bree certainly wasn’t a favourite, or even that memorable of a character, you can empathise with her, especially with her miserable home life. Parents are MIA, separated and with little interest in her, so she lives with an elderly grandmother who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Grandma barely seems to know what planet she’s on. She’s got a hot new boyfriend and the popular girls aren’t so bad after all once you get to know them and her only other friend seems determined to hold a grudge and whines about stupid things and doesn’t seem to appreciate how lucky she is.
At least for Gabe, the cool new guy starts paying more attention, and they start forming a tentative friendship with the potential for something more. Hartman seems like a nice enough guy, he has plenty of baggage and drama of his own. Then everything comes to a dramatic point on prom night. Gabe is talked into taking Bree, Bryce, and their friends in the family hearse. The group head off for an after party. Gabe has gone with Hartman as her date, and while the others want to explore some abandoned building, Gabe and Hartman wander off together. There’s a tragic accident.
And everything changes. The event has a major effect on Bree who goes AWOL. Rattled with grief and guilt Gabe realises she has to put aside her grudges and prejudices and do whatever she has to to find her missing friend. Which means reaching out to some of the other girls who were there that night. There’s a touching sense of togetherness as the group come together to deal with the incident and Gabe realises that Bree might have been right after all – these girls and even the boys aren’t so bad after all. They’re just people. Like them, with flaws, complex emotions. Coming together in a difficult time forms new bonds which lead to new friendships and a whole change on life’s perspectives for Gabe. There’s positive changes for Bree as well. The novel concludes in a believable way, without being overly emotional or dramatic.
It’s a well written, enjoyable book, and the characters are easy to understand and identify with.
Thank you to Netgalley and Albert Whitman & Company for approving my request to view the title.
I came across this one in my Netgalley TBR from a few years back and started reading it, not remembering anything about what it was about or why I had requested it. I think it must have appealed to the ‘Six Feet Under’ fan in me.
The main character Gabe (short for Gabriella) parents’ own a funeral home in a small town, she lives there with her younger sister, has an eccentric aunt, a BFF and a love of all things vintage. One boy made a joke about her being Wednesday Addams so she makes a point of making herself look like Wednesday (which made me like her even more). The novel starts with Gabe and her BFF paired for a school project with ultra popular guy Bryce and cool new guy Hartman. Bryce was the one who for years compared Gabe Wednesday Addams and also nicknamed her Graveyard Gabby which has stuck with her. He also ruined her first kiss with a boy she really liked. So Gabe is less than thrilled.
Even worse when her BFF Bree starts to click with Bryce and before long they’re dating. Gabe is mortified, and understandably so. She’s struggling to adjust when she’s so used to having Bree to herself, and this the jerk who made her an outcast. So naturally it’s completely logical that she wouldn’t be thrilled. Yet she’s willing to at least try for her friend’s sake. It’s not easy. Having been in a similar position personally, when a friend you’ve had for years starts ignoring you for someone else – it’s not easy. So Gabe’s reactions and ways of handling this felt very authentic and believable.
She’s grumpy and annoyed, especially when Bree starts ignoring her texts and calls, ditching her to hang out with Bryce and his popular friends and their girlfriends who both Bree and Gabe have always dismissed as airheads. Bree’s family situation is complex, and it doesn’t help that Gabe is moaning about her own responsibilities. She does some work in the family business and has to pick up her sister from the eccentric aunt. Normal things. Yet she doesn’t understand why Bree gets mad when she whines about it.
While Bree certainly wasn’t a favourite, or even that memorable of a character, you can empathise with her, especially with her miserable home life. Parents are MIA, separated and with little interest in her, so she lives with an elderly grandmother who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Grandma barely seems to know what planet she’s on. She’s got a hot new boyfriend and the popular girls aren’t so bad after all once you get to know them and her only other friend seems determined to hold a grudge and whines about stupid things and doesn’t seem to appreciate how lucky she is.
At least for Gabe, the cool new guy starts paying more attention, and they start forming a tentative friendship with the potential for something more. Hartman seems like a nice enough guy, he has plenty of baggage and drama of his own. Then everything comes to a dramatic point on prom night. Gabe is talked into taking Bree, Bryce, and their friends in the family hearse. The group head off for an after party. Gabe has gone with Hartman as her date, and while the others want to explore some abandoned building, Gabe and Hartman wander off together. There’s a tragic accident.
And everything changes. The event has a major effect on Bree who goes AWOL. Rattled with grief and guilt Gabe realises she has to put aside her grudges and prejudices and do whatever she has to to find her missing friend. Which means reaching out to some of the other girls who were there that night. There’s a touching sense of togetherness as the group come together to deal with the incident and Gabe realises that Bree might have been right after all – these girls and even the boys aren’t so bad after all. They’re just people. Like them, with flaws, complex emotions. Coming together in a difficult time forms new bonds which lead to new friendships and a whole change on life’s perspectives for Gabe. There’s positive changes for Bree as well. The novel concludes in a believable way, without being overly emotional or dramatic.
It’s a well written, enjoyable book, and the characters are easy to understand and identify with.
Thank you to Netgalley and Albert Whitman & Company for approving my request to view the title.
Read
March 22, 2017Gabe (Gabby to her parents, much to her annoyance) lives in a funeral parlor. It's the family business. Most of her classmates think she's really weird but she doesn't care. She has her best friend, Bree, and they're happy. Except then Bree starts dating Bryce (who used to be really mean to Gabe, and who's never been exactly pleasant to her). Now their friendship is really strained and Gabe has no idea how to get her friend back...or how to deal with the guy she's kind of dating.
This book has a lot going on, probably a little too much. I think first love AND weird family AND friendship drama is a little too much for a book that's not even 300 pages.
And yet, it's interesting and even kind of beautiful. I wish we had spent more time on the ways the family business has harmed Gabe (she's very Vada Sultenfuss--not hypochondria, so much, but she knows all the ways you can die and she's nervous about a lot of them).
That's the plot I was most interested in, and it's what we spent the least amount of time with.
This book has a lot going on, probably a little too much. I think first love AND weird family AND friendship drama is a little too much for a book that's not even 300 pages.
And yet, it's interesting and even kind of beautiful. I wish we had spent more time on the ways the family business has harmed Gabe (she's very Vada Sultenfuss--not hypochondria, so much, but she knows all the ways you can die and she's nervous about a lot of them).
That's the plot I was most interested in, and it's what we spent the least amount of time with.
May 14, 2017
This isn't the usual sort of book I read. I tend to stay away from the angsty books, but there was something about this one that made me request it.
I looooooved Gabe. She's smart and snarky and doesn't really know how to deal with people outside of her BFF, Bree. I was captivated while reading her figuring out how to navigate the changes and ups and downs of her life. I wasn't a huge fan of Bree, but was able to understand a bit more once we got the entire story. As for Hartman, yeah, he's perfect for Gabe and their interactions were some of the best.
The story is hopeful and heartbreaking and I throughly enjoyed every page. And when it took a different turn than I was expecting, it was just perfection.
I'm not sure I would read it again, but only because I think it'll stay with me for a while.
**Huge thanks to Albert Whitman and Company for providing the arc free of charge**
I looooooved Gabe. She's smart and snarky and doesn't really know how to deal with people outside of her BFF, Bree. I was captivated while reading her figuring out how to navigate the changes and ups and downs of her life. I wasn't a huge fan of Bree, but was able to understand a bit more once we got the entire story. As for Hartman, yeah, he's perfect for Gabe and their interactions were some of the best.
The story is hopeful and heartbreaking and I throughly enjoyed every page. And when it took a different turn than I was expecting, it was just perfection.
I'm not sure I would read it again, but only because I think it'll stay with me for a while.
**Huge thanks to Albert Whitman and Company for providing the arc free of charge**
April 12, 2018
The main character is an introverted, vintage dress loving, introverted daughter of a mortician. She owns her quirkiness from the get-go, but it's all OK because she has her bestie. Until something is off with her bestie. NO, NOT MY BESTIE!!!! Is there any heartbreak quite as sweet and awful as the heartbreak of losing a best friend? Nope. It's the worst.
I fell in love with the fact that this girls family owns a funeral home. Seriously, the best backdrop for the awkwardness of teenage crushes, and the unspoken rules of friendship. Put some funerals, a graveyard, and a girl without the normal reactions to grief in the mix, and this coming of age novel leaves fluttery hearts and genuine feels. There were things I did not see coming, and character reactions that surprised me, and I have a new boy crush on Hartman, the boy. Back off. He's mine.
I fell in love with the fact that this girls family owns a funeral home. Seriously, the best backdrop for the awkwardness of teenage crushes, and the unspoken rules of friendship. Put some funerals, a graveyard, and a girl without the normal reactions to grief in the mix, and this coming of age novel leaves fluttery hearts and genuine feels. There were things I did not see coming, and character reactions that surprised me, and I have a new boy crush on Hartman, the boy. Back off. He's mine.
October 25, 2016
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.
3 out of 5 stars.
I struggled with this book from the beginning. The distant narrator made it difficult to engage with her. Although the story includes a unique character living in a different kind of house, it felt cliché for most of the novel with the usual school setting, and prom, and friends. Around the last third of the book, a turn of events made me care for the characters, and the story improved a bunch. But I'm afraid this is too late.
Overall, an okay novel with a gripping third act. I feel a little disappointed because Gabriella, the MC, is an interesting character that could've been much more engaging.
3 out of 5 stars.
I struggled with this book from the beginning. The distant narrator made it difficult to engage with her. Although the story includes a unique character living in a different kind of house, it felt cliché for most of the novel with the usual school setting, and prom, and friends. Around the last third of the book, a turn of events made me care for the characters, and the story improved a bunch. But I'm afraid this is too late.
Overall, an okay novel with a gripping third act. I feel a little disappointed because Gabriella, the MC, is an interesting character that could've been much more engaging.
June 22, 2017
Well,
Gabe is probably the most selfish MC I've ever read about. I mean seriously, she's even worse than the Alphas I've read about.
I could've rated this with 5 stars but unfortunately, by the end of the book I was so exasperated with Gabe, I want to throttle her.
If you come to think of it, what she did was a self-imposed isolation. She decided to act out based on the taunts and she ended up isolating herself and dragging Bree with her. I mean like seriously, who are you to dictate how your friend should act or what she should feel.
I mean, what's the point?
The only saving grace of this book is Gabe's interaction with Hartman, but even with Hartman she is so selfish and calloused, I don't think she even deserved him.
Gabe is probably the most selfish MC I've ever read about. I mean seriously, she's even worse than the Alphas I've read about.
I could've rated this with 5 stars but unfortunately, by the end of the book I was so exasperated with Gabe, I want to throttle her.
If you come to think of it, what she did was a self-imposed isolation. She decided to act out based on the taunts and she ended up isolating herself and dragging Bree with her. I mean like seriously, who are you to dictate how your friend should act or what she should feel.
I mean, what's the point?
The only saving grace of this book is Gabe's interaction with Hartman, but even with Hartman she is so selfish and calloused, I don't think she even deserved him.
February 17, 2018
"Forevers are everywhere."
All The Forever Things was a super quirky read but one that was Impossible to put down. Gabe's spent her whole life living above her family's funeral parlour, she has the whole Wednesday Addams vibe going on which I love.
But this has made Gabe a target for ridicule and she's over cautious about stuff that could end in death, case in point she doesn't swim in the sea because of drowning, hates driving her car and never learnt to a bike.
A unique YA novel that ask the question and you living if you don't step out of your box!! The romance was super cute and the perfect reflection on starting out with someone.
All The Forever Things was a super quirky read but one that was Impossible to put down. Gabe's spent her whole life living above her family's funeral parlour, she has the whole Wednesday Addams vibe going on which I love.
But this has made Gabe a target for ridicule and she's over cautious about stuff that could end in death, case in point she doesn't swim in the sea because of drowning, hates driving her car and never learnt to a bike.
A unique YA novel that ask the question and you living if you don't step out of your box!! The romance was super cute and the perfect reflection on starting out with someone.
September 11, 2018
This book is centered around the friendship between Gabe and Bree which fractures when Bree starts dating a guy that Gabe doesn't like. Gabe also starts a relationship with a boy who is new to their school. There are some big themes explored such as death, grief, friendship and being different, especially in high school. Gabe develops as a character and learns to become more empathetic and less self focused, when a tragedy occurs that directly affects her friend Bree. Overall, an interesting read.
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